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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Implementing science-based management plans to ensure sustainable fisheries in California

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Government
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#OceanAction40817
    Description
    Description
    The State of California has taken an ecosystem-based approach to ensuring sustainable marine ecosystems through the creation of a network of marine protected areas and development of fishery management plans for commercial and recreational fisheries. Fishery management plans include information necessary to make informed decisions on sustaining marine resources while allowing harvest opportunities, including a description of the fishery, fishery science, conservation measures, habitat requirements, bycatch and discards, status of overfishing/rebuilding, and management options.

    California has fishery management plans for nearshore fisheries, market squid, and white seabass. The State also recently finalized a management plan for the California spiny lobster fishery, which includes a harvest control rule that incorporates the contributions of marine protected areas to spawning output of the lobster population, linking fisheries management measures with expected marine protected area performance. California commits to finalizing fishery management plans for the abalone and herring fisheries by 2018 and releasing a case study on the integration of the States marine protected areas and fisheries management measures by 2018.

    Additionally, California commits to updating its Master Plan for Fisheries - a roadmap for implementing sustainable management of state-managed fisheries and for prioritizing fisheries in the greatest need of management and conservation measures. The updated Master Plan for Fisheries will be informed by information gathering projects that are developing tools and recommendations to improve fisheries management in California. These projects address a wide range of projects including climate change and fisheries, socioeconomics, partnerships, stakeholder engagement, ecosystem considerations and prioritization.

    Californias coast supports a $45 billion economy, including booming tourism, recreation, and fishing industries. The State commits to ongoing efforts to help ensure fishing communities and working waterfronts continue to thrive into the future.
    Partners
    California Department of Fish and Wildlife (government), California Fish and Game Commission (government), California Ocean Protection Council (government)

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
    14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
    14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
    Adoption of the updated Master Plan for Fisheries by mid-2018.
    Abalone Fishery Management Plan adopted by December 2018.
    Herring Fishery Management Plan adopted by December 2018.
    Host several statewide meetings to solicit feedback on issues facing fishing communities future resilience and identify potential policy or management solutions by December 2018.
    Financing (in USD)
    380000
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Staff from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Fish and Game Commission, and the California Ocean Protection Council are supporting the process to update the Marine Life Management Act Master Plan for Fisheries. The California D
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Action Network
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    Timeline
    01 July 2016 (start date)
    01 December 2018 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Ocean Protection Council on behalf of the State of California
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Sacramento, California, United States of America
    Ocean Basins
    North Pacific
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine and coastal ecosystems management, Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
    N/A
    Contact Information

    Jenn Eckerle, Deputy Director, Ocean Protection Council