When the market helps: Standards, ecolabels and

resource management systems in East Africa

When the market helps: Standards, ecolabels and

resource management systems in East AfricaStefano Ponte (DIIS),

Reuben Kadigi (SUA) and Winnie Mitullah (Univ. of Nairobi)

SAFE Final Conference, Zanzibar 31 May-1 June 2010

Stefano Ponte (DIIS), Reuben Kadigi (SUA)

and Winnie Mitullah (Univ. of Nairobi)SAFE Final Conference,

Zanzibar 31 May-1 June 2010

Objective of the paperObjective of the paper Examine the role that standards and

management practices play in maintaining a rewarding and sustainable export fish industry in East Africa

Two steps: Maintaining access to EU markets by

complying with food safety standards Application of regulations, stndards,

ecolabels and fishery management systems to ensure the sustainability of the resource

Examine the role that standards and management practices play in maintaining a rewarding and sustainable export fish industry in East Africa

Two steps: Maintaining access to EU markets by

complying with food safety standards Application of regulations, stndards,

ecolabels and fishery management systems to ensure the sustainability of the resource

Complying with food safety standards 1

Complying with food safety standards 1

EU food safety regulation on imports of fish

Application of EU rules in fish exporting countries

Bans of late 1990s Upgrading of factories, new SOPs,

clearer CA roles EU inspections in 2000 – green light

EU food safety regulation on imports of fish

Application of EU rules in fish exporting countries

Bans of late 1990s Upgrading of factories, new SOPs,

clearer CA roles EU inspections in 2000 – green light

Complying with food safety standards 2

Complying with food safety standards 2

EU follow up inspection in 2006 Fine-tuning of regulations and SOPs Lack of upstream controls (on the lake) Landings for export only in approved sites

(Tanzania)

EU follow up inspection in 2006 Fine-tuning of regulations and SOPs Lack of upstream controls (on the lake) Landings for export only in approved sites

(Tanzania)

Sustainability and fishery management systems 1Sustainability and fishery management systems 1

Traditional ’rule and punish systems’ Fish/net size regulation for Nile perch: 6 in. net min size; 20 in. fish min size juvenile fish illegal to trade it even in local market

In practice: difficult to monitor/control Top-down punitive measures do not work in

the long term

Traditional ’rule and punish systems’ Fish/net size regulation for Nile perch: 6 in. net min size; 20 in. fish min size juvenile fish illegal to trade it even in local market

In practice: difficult to monitor/control Top-down punitive measures do not work in

the long term

Sustainability and fishery management systems 2Sustainability and fishery management systems 2

Changes in demand – ’the market helps’ Self-regulation (NEW!) Fish processors (started in Ug, extended to Tz and K) Do not buy NP under regulatory size Own inspection unit (self-financed) CAs impose sanctions (closure of plants)

Motivations: Market vs. Sustainability Does it work beyond the landing site? Motivations, incentives, ’blame’ Alternative markets for juvenile fish (DRC,

Sudan)

Changes in demand – ’the market helps’ Self-regulation (NEW!) Fish processors (started in Ug, extended to Tz and K) Do not buy NP under regulatory size Own inspection unit (self-financed) CAs impose sanctions (closure of plants)

Motivations: Market vs. Sustainability Does it work beyond the landing site? Motivations, incentives, ’blame’ Alternative markets for juvenile fish (DRC,

Sudan)

Sustainability and fishery management systems 3Sustainability and fishery management systems 3

Community involvement in fishery management

Beach Management Units (BMUs) More awareness on sustainability issues Lack of resources and incentives Difficult to confiscate gear Need to address constraints under which fishers operate Net swaps, not military operations

Community involvement in fishery management

Beach Management Units (BMUs) More awareness on sustainability issues Lack of resources and incentives Difficult to confiscate gear Need to address constraints under which fishers operate Net swaps, not military operations

EcolabellingEcolabelling

Market-based initiatives that seek to address the challenges of fish stock management Ecolabels Pocket guides & advisory lists Procurement guidelines

Role of NGOs in promoting these

Market-based initiatives that seek to address the challenges of fish stock management Ecolabels Pocket guides & advisory lists Procurement guidelines

Role of NGOs in promoting these

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

Main features of MSC Chain of custody Logo Certification against 3 principles

Status of stock Impact of fishery on the ecosystemPerformance of the fishery management

system

Assessment and re-assessment process

Main features of MSC Chain of custody Logo Certification against 3 principles

Status of stock Impact of fishery on the ecosystemPerformance of the fishery management

system

Assessment and re-assessment process

MSC and developing countriesMSC and developing countries

Only few developing country fisheries (DCFs) Lack of initial involvement with DCFs As of 2006, 3 DCFs certified, all in upper-

middle income countries (incl SA hake) + 2 under assessment

2010: still only 3 (of which one in a low-income country) certified and 5 under assessment

Only few developing country fisheries (DCFs) Lack of initial involvement with DCFs As of 2006, 3 DCFs certified, all in upper-

middle income countries (incl SA hake) + 2 under assessment

2010: still only 3 (of which one in a low-income country) certified and 5 under assessment

Ecolabelling initiatives on Lake Victoria 1

Ecolabelling initiatives on Lake Victoria 1

Pre-assessment for MSC To counteract negative images of the

industry (e.g. Darwin’s nightmare) To encourage more active

government engagement in sustainability

To stimulate value addition Unlikely to lead to full assessment

Naturland certification (Tanzania) Kyoga Wild (Uganda)

Pre-assessment for MSC To counteract negative images of the

industry (e.g. Darwin’s nightmare) To encourage more active

government engagement in sustainability

To stimulate value addition Unlikely to lead to full assessment

Naturland certification (Tanzania) Kyoga Wild (Uganda)

Ecolabelling initiatives on Lake Victoria 2

Ecolabelling initiatives on Lake Victoria 2

Issues Collective vs individual initiatives Environmental and certification

outcomes vs. Stimulating focus on sustainable management

Ecolabelling as ’market risk-management’

Issues Collective vs individual initiatives Environmental and certification

outcomes vs. Stimulating focus on sustainable management

Ecolabelling as ’market risk-management’

ConclusionsConclusions Food safety problems for the most

part fixed Sustainable fishery management

Keep supporting the self-monitoring system

Clarifying and revising the role of BMUs + appropriate financing

Net swaps Limited role for ecolabelling

Food safety problems for the most part fixed

Sustainable fishery management Keep supporting the self-monitoring

system Clarifying and revising the role of

BMUs + appropriate financing Net swaps

Limited role for ecolabelling