Transforming
wasted resources
for a sustainable future
The sustainable management of bycatch in Latin America
and Caribbean trawl fisheries
REBYC-II LAC
Shrimp trawling and other types When bycatch is effectively managed and
utilized, it can contribute to food and
of bottom trawling provide
nutrition security and constitute an important
employment, income and source of food for local populations.
livelihoods for a large number However, when it is discarded, it represents
of people in tropical and a significant loss of food and revenue.
subtropical countries. In the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC)
region, progress has been made in reducing
However, in addition to targeted species,
both bycatch and sea-bed damage caused
these forms of trawling also catches other
by trawling. Nonetheless, trawl bycatch and
fish and marine life. This incidental catch is
discards still constitute a sustainability threat
referred to as bycatch – or discards if it is
and continue to jeopardize livelihoods and
not landed but thrown overboard. Often a
long-term food security.
significant part of the bycatch consists of
small-sized and low-value fish but it can also
include juveniles of commercially important
fish species as well as highly vulnerable
animals such as sea turtles, sharks or rays.
Bottom trawl fishing can be damaging to
sea-bed habitats and cause conflicts with
coastal small-scale fisheries.
In an average tropical shrimp
trawl catch, the quantity of
3 15
bycatch is between
and
times more
than the targeted species
© INVEMAR, Colombia
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Today, measures exist to manage bycatch. THE REBYC-II LAC PROJECT
These can be adapted to specific fisheries
The REBYC-II LAC project aims to reduce
and take environmental conditions and
food loss and support sustainable
socio-economic considerations into
livelihoods by improving the management
account. Previous projects* have shown
of bycatch and minimizing discards and
that efforts to reduce bycatch effectively
sea-bed damage, thereby transforming
need to be an integral part of trawl
bottom trawl fisheries into responsible
fisheries management. A comprehensive
fisheries. The project seeks to safeguard
and participatory approach focusing on
both human and environmental well-being.
shared management and the livelihoods of
fishing communities is needed to achieve To achieve this, the project covers four
sustainable and responsible trawl fisheries. integrated components:
01 LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL
FRAMEWORKS
02 RESPONSIBLE FISHING PRACTICES
03 LIVELIHOODS, FOOD AND NUTRITION
SECURITY AND GENDER BALANCE
04 LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE
SHARING
BYCATCH: anything that a fisher does not
intend to catch but that still ends up in 02
the net or gear
DISCARDS: the part of the bycatch that is 01 03
not utilized but returned to the sea, either
dead or alive
* A global UNDP-FAO-GEF project, REBYC was implemented in 2002-08
04
© INVEMAR,Colombia
The most effective way to achieve sustainable
and responsible trawl fisheries is through a
comprehensive approach involving effective
partnerships between the public and private
sectors with a focus on the livelihoods of
fishing communities.
© FAO
01 LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL
FRAMEWORKS 03 LIVELIHOODS, FOOD AND
NUTRITION SECURITY AND
GENDER BALANCE
Making the necessary changes to reduce
bycatch requires an enabling environment Introducing better management may require
in the form of appropriate legal and changing practices to reduce bycatch and
institutional frameworks. The project will also fishing less overall, potentially leading
help countries review existing legislation to less landed catch, at least in the short
and governance arrangements and suggest term. The project will investigate the role
amendments conducive to engagement by of bycatch in food security and livelihoods
the fishing sector in fisheries management and explore alternative income generation
and to the establishment of public–private opportunities for those affected by the
partnerships. management action, including women
who are often involved in processing and
02 RESPONSIBLE FISHING
PRACTICES
selling products from bycatch. Capacity
development for livelihoods diversification is
Improving trawl fisheries management critical to ensure decent job opportunities
and practices to reduce non-sustainable and incomes.
bycatch involves the use of appropriate
technologies and other management
measures. Appropriate and reliable
data and information are important and
essential for effective decision-making,
so the project will assist in strengthening
the knowledge on bycatch and discards ©NOAA
in project countries. Based on this and
in close collaboration with fishers and
the fishing industry, the project will
support the identification of management
measures and technologies and promote
the creation of incentives for transitioning
to more responsible fishing practices.
The turtle excluder device (TED) is one
type of bycatch reduction device (above)
allowing turtles to swim out of the trawl.
©Dan Foster/NOAA
© Suzuette Soomai
© Invemar, Colombia
04 LEARNING AND
EXPERIENCE SHARING WHO IS
Finding successful solutions for bycatch
and trawl management requires taking
INVOLVED:
local circumstances into account as well as
The project covers six countries: Brazil,
sharing lessons and communicating good
Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Suriname
practices across fishers, countries and
and Trinidad and Tobago.
regions. The project will promote increased
cooperation among project countries and Key stakeholder groups engaging in the
in the LAC region. Systems and processes project include:
for monitoring and assessing project results • the private fishing sector
and communicating these effectively will be
• regional fisheries organizations
set up. The project will be part of the GEF
• NGOs and universities/research
IW:LEARN network, contributing experiences
institutes.
and learning from others.
© FAO
GUIDELINES
The project is implementing the
International Guidelines on Bycatch
Management and Reduction of
Discards (FAO 2011). Available at
www.fao.org/fishery/nems/40157
© INVEMAR,Colombia
SUPPORT Managing bycatch and discards will provide
long-term benefits for transforming food
THIS losses and waste into a sustainable future.
INITIATIVE Take part in this initiative – help protect the
ecosystem, safeguard people’s livelihoods
and create responsible trawl fisheries that
work for present and future generations.
© Paul Kevin F. Peralta, aged 18, Philippines
REBYC-II LAC
Cover photos, top left: ©INVEMAR, Colombia, turtle photo: ©istockphoto.com. Above, top right: ©NOAA, all other photos ©FAO
CONTACT
Fishing Operations and Technology Branch PARTNERS
Resource Use and Conservation Division NI
C
AN
D ATMOSPHER
IC
AD
EA
MI
NATIONAL OC
Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
NIS
TRATION
Food and Agriculture Organization of the
U.
E
RC
S.
EP
MM
D
AR
TME O
NT OF C
United Nations
Phone: +39 06 570 55034
Email: Rebyc2-Lac@fao.org
www.fao.org/fishery
