AFM 321 FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION

Fishery development is a process towards achieving the full potential of the sector through growth and improvement. Fishery development is also defined to include the expansion of fishing effort, improvement in post-harvest technology, marketing and transportation of fishery products as well as the provision of infrastructure and other related facilities. In fisheries, development may be defined as a process of change through which sustainable and equitable improvements are made to the quality of life for most or all members of the society (Bailey and Jentoft, 1990). A fishery is being developed if: i. The biomass is being reduced by fishing, rebuilt after depletion or enhanced to increase its productivity. ii. The quality of the catch or its value improves, not necessarily increasing the harvest. iii. Under an ecosystem approach to fisheries, development may be achieved through the reduction of the negative environmental impact and/or increasing resilience of the system to unexpected change, meeting broader societal objectives. iv. Examples of fisheries development interventions include fish subsidy, fuel subsidy, motorisation, credit, marketing infrastructure, improved post-harvest technology, promotion of cooperatives