Ten Year Development Policy Framework of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Sector 2007-2016.

This Ten Year Development Policy Framework of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Sector is a policy document at the national level. The Policy Objectives are: 1. To improve the nutritional status and food security of the people by increasing the national fish production; 2. To minimize post-harvest losses and improve quality and safety of fish products to acceptable standards; 3. To increase employment opportunities in fisheries and related industries and improve the socio-economic status the fisher community; 4. To increase foreign exchange earnings from fish products; 5. To conserve the coastal and aquatic environment.
To achieve the Policy Objective 1, the targets have been set up as: Coastal fish production will be increased to 236,132 tons; Offshore fish production increased to 156,450 tons; and high seas production increased to 26,750 tons. Policy Measures have been identified. For high seas resources, such Policy Measures inlude: 1. Encourage local multi-day fishing vessels to fish in high seas; 2. Arrange for the harvesting/production/supply of bait for tuna long line fishing; 3. Develop co-operation with regional fisheries management organizations; 4. Introduce better designs of boats equipped for high seas fishing with better storages, safety and communication facilities and specify guidelines for their production; 5 Promote bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries to gain access to high seas.
The Policy seeks to make fisheries more productive and sustainable. Policy Measures are identified, including: 1. Promote the principles of responsible fisheries; 2. Promote co-management of fisheries through participatory management plans; 3. Enforce fisheries laws and regulations and prevent the use of undesirable & destructive gears & methods; 4.Give Priority for surveys on fisheries and aquatic resources, stock assessments and exploratory fishing; etc. Policy Measures to combat Illegal, Unregistered and Unreported (IUU) Fishing include: 1 Install a vessel monitoring system to track the movement of vessels within EEZ; 2 Establish an efficient MCS System; 3 Set up an effective Coast Guard Service; 4 Obtain the participation of the fishers for obtaining information and for preventing unauthorized fishing activities. To conserve the coastal and aquatic environment, the Poplicy proposes: 1. Develop & Stabilize coastal stretches; Improve the quality of coastal environment and lagoons; Conserve critical coastal habitats; Rehabilitate the abandoned shrimp farms and peripheral areas of existing farms to gain economic & environmental benefits.
The Policy seeks to contribute to rural poverty reduction. Strategies/Actions are proposed to increase employment opportunities in fisheries and related industries and improve the socio-economic status of the fisher community, which include: Establish income generating activities among coastal fishing communities; Improve the living conditions and quality of life of fishing families; etc.
The Policy seeks to enable more inclusive and efficient fisheries and food systems. Policy outputs include: 1.Food safety monitoring systems upgraded and maintained in full compliance with international and national food health standards; 2. Post harvest standards improved on multi day vessels; 3. Post harvest standards improved on coastal vessels; 4. Coastal landing sites, markets and inland fish markets upgraded and improved; 5. Cold chain extended in N&E provinces; and 6. Increased domestic market penetration achieved;7. Fishery Cooperatives strengthened and expanded; 8. Conversion and expansion of tuna longline fleet; 9. New fisheries developed to target under-exploited fisheries; 10. Fisher capacity improved; 11. Shrimp sector strengthened & sustained; 12. Seasonal / Perennial tank production expanded; 13. Research programs initiated into the feasibility of small scale freshwater aquaculture systems; 14. Mariculture and inland cage culture expanded as an alternative livelihood in coastal and inland fishing communities; and 15. Aquatic plants and ornamental fish sector expanded.
The Policy seeks to increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters. It proposes to minimize risk & vulnerability due to coastal hazards through: Conducting vulnerability and risk assessment in the coastal areas & introduce development criteria; Establish coastal hazard early warning systems & formulate response strategy; Developing bio-shield in vulnerable areas; etc.