1. When the market helps: Standards, ecolabels and resource management systems in East Africa Stefano 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

2. Objective 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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. Sustainability 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

6. Sustainability 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)

7. Sustainability 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

8. Ecolabelling  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

9. Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)  Main features of MSC  Chain of custody  Logo  Certification against 3 principles  Status of stock  Impact of fishery on the ecosystem  Performance 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 ecosystem  Performance of the fishery management system  Assessment and re-assessment process

10. MSC 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

11. 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)

12. 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’

13. Conclusions  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