Trade Policy Note Final-rev08 - Development

also enshrined in the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, particularly Articles
6 and 11 (FAO 2004). Environmental regulations (e.g. shrimp/turtle issue) are also
serious barriers for small fishermen. Voluntary eco-labeling schemes, designed to
promote sustainable fisheries can also be a barrier as small scale fishermen are
usually unable to organize so as to qualify.
Box 21: Examples of How SPS Can Penalize the Poor
From a small-scale fisheries perspective, in addition to the cost aspects, one of the main
problems in adopting a HACCP plan would be the difficulty in implementing such a plan at
the level of fish catch, especially for beach landing fishing units like kattumaram and canoes,
for example, in India. According to EU and US standards, fish need to be stored in ice or to
be kept in frozen storage as soon as they are harvested. Storage of fish in iceboxes would be
difficult on board traditional fishing craft like kattumaram, which is made of lashed logs. Yet,
many kattumaram using long lining and bottom set gillnets are used for catching fish for the
export market. Strict implementation of HACCP plans could result in small producers which
use such fishing craft being excluded from the export market.
On reaching the fishing harbour or landing centre, traditional fishers are expected to handle
fish for export markets without exposing them to the beach-sand as a result of the fish
handling standards of import markets. Many of the fishing villages that harvest fish, shrimp
and cephalopods for the export market have only the beach for la nding their catch and it
would be difficult for them to comply with a HACCP plan unless they invest in iceboxes and
maintain them in a hygienic manner.
While tariff escalation is a significant barrier, sanitary and environmental regulations
pose the greatest barrier facing the entry of small fishermen in the world market as
non-tariff barriers. These can be addressed at the multilateral level through negotiated
improvements in the WTO SPS Agreement relating to equivalence of standards, and
rules governing the use of eco-labeling. However, action is required at the bilateral
level to provide financial and technical assistance and facilities to enable poor
fishermen to meet national regulations of the importing country.
A number of Multilateral Environmenta l Agreements are aimed at preventing the
depletion of fishery resources, particularly of migratory species. Some of these have
trade provisions. It is important to ensure that the provisions of the WTO or FTAs
cannot be used to frustrate the effective implementation of these MEAs.
Developing countries are legislating to protect the interests of small fishermen,
particularly by reducing capture of fish in EEZ waters and reserving portions of
territorial waters for small fishermen. 137 Credit facilities to assist poor people to
construct aquaculture facilities and export to world markets also provide strong
support to poor fishermen. Measures to support the processing of fish products before
export can also increase incomes and provide additional employment opportunities in
this sector.
137 See Mathew, Sebastian, Trade in Fisheries and Human Development in India, UNDP Asia Trade
Initiative on Trade and Human Development, Phase 1, technical support document (Hanoi: 2003)
(available at www.undprcc.lk/Publications/Publications.asp?C=4 ).
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