Timing and magnitude of climate driven range shifts in transboundary fish stocks challenge their management

Climate change is shifting the distribution of shared fish stocks between neighboring countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and the high seas. The timescale of these transboundary shifts determines how climate change will affect international fisheries governance. Coupling a large ensemble simulation of an Earth system model to a species distribution model, we show that by 2030, 23% of transboundary stocks would have shifted and 78% of the world EEZs will experience at least one shifting stock under a high emission climate change scenario. By the end of this century, 81% of EEZ waters will see at least one shifting stock with a total of 45% of stocks shifting globally, under a high emissions scenario. Importantly, many countries that are highly dependent on fisheries for income, food and nutrition security, as well as livelihoods emerge as hotspots for transboundary shifts showing early, and sometimes past shifts. Existing fisheries agreements need to be assessed for their capacity in addressing transboundary shifts, and strengthened where necessary to limit conflict over these fish stocks while new agreements are urged to considere this problematic in order to be resilient to global change.

Fishing Quota and International Obligation: Why Has Indonesia been Indicated as a Non-Compliant State

Indonesia committed to conserving the tuna resources by participating in some RFMOs. From all regional organizations where Indonesia has been joined, the CCSBT is the unique one, due to it governs a single tuna species, which is called Southern Bluefin Tuna. This kind of tuna is essential for Indonesia because it is the world’s most expensive tuna and SBT migrates through Indonesian fisheries management zones and goes even further within the territorial waters, where the SBT spawning area is located. This natural characteristic distinguishes Indonesia from other Parties to CCSBT. Nevertheless, the Country has been dealing with its obligation to comply with national quota allocation. For some fishing season periods, the CCSBT indicated Indonesia as a non-compliant. By applying the qualitative approach, this study considers how Indonesia’s non-compliance has been addressed in fishing for shared fish stocks. The data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews and legal analysis of law and policy instruments. This method leads the elaboration to reveal domestic factors affecting non-compliance by Indonesia. This study argues, the fisheries legislation should consider the provision concerning fishing for resources under quota system, hence, it will provide sufficient legal base to take enforcement measures towards non-compliance with fishing quota.

The shared fish stocks conservation: revisiting the unconnected enforcement

“There is plenty of other fish in the sea," goes the old cliché as many stocks have been overfished by industrial fisheries, that the over-activity made some fish species in danger. The scope of this paper covers the enforcement issue of Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) as endangered fish species. Taking Indonesia, New Zealand, and Australia as member States who catch SBT, this paper is a conceptual study using content analysis aiming to review how these three-member States officially treat SBT stocks. Based on the discussion, it found that since the shared characteristic of SBT, in areas beyond national jurisdiction it might create regulatory gaps. While international provisions have been entered into force in respect of endangered fish stocks in high seas areas, however, a lacuna remained in which the law cannot reach the national fishing area. This situation may lead to a discrepancy framework at the national level. Therefore, this paper argues that connectivity is crucial to link enforcement among relevant States with the real interest. In this context, the enforcement must consider the movement path of SBT from a coastal State (the spawning ground), the flag State (the fishing vessel), and the Port State (the place to land SBT).

'A sea of troubles': Brexit and the fisheries question

Brexit poses a major challenge to the stability of European fisheries management. Until now, neighbouring EU Member States have shared the bounty of the living resources of the seas around Britain. Taking full responsibility for the regulation of fisheries within the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone will cut across longstanding relationships, potentially putting at risk recent recovery and future sustainability of shared fish stocks. The paper considers the meaning of Brexit in relation to fisheries and the issues that will need to be resolved in any rebalancing of fishing opportunities within the UK EEZ. It examines the longer term implications for the governance of fisheries and the likely restructuring of institutional and regulatory arrangements, emphasising the prior need for a shared vision and robust modus operandi for collaboration between the UK and EU to ensure the sustainability of resources, viability of fishing activity and the health of marine ecosystems.