• Resolution on Food Security and Establishment of Equitable Trade Rules of Fishery Products in Yokohama, Japan in 2000
  • Resolution on Food Security and Establishment of Equitable
  • Trade Rules of Fishery Products
  • We, member organizations of the International Co-operative Fisheries Organization of the International Co-operative Alliance,
  • Having met in Yokohama on 27 August, 2000, on the occasion of ICFO’s annual general meeting,
  • Reconfirmed the effectiveness of “The ICFO Quebec Statement on the next WTO Fisheries Negotiation” which was adopted on 28 August, 1999 in Quebec city, Canada.
  • In order for fisheries cooperatives and their member fishers to contribute to food security, it is necessary to implement FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, based on the United Nations Law of the Sea Agreement. We ICFO noted that for this purpose, community-based fisheries management, which is a form of fisheries management wherein fishers’ voluntary associations such as cooperatives cooperate with the government for fisheries management purpose, must constitute the basis.
  • We ICFO also noted that promotion of community-based fisheries management is a subject which should lead to ensuring of food security in the 21st century. From this standpoint, it was agreed that it was necessary for ICFO members to not only make efforts to strengthen the organizations and functions of fisheries cooperatives in our respective countries in cooperation with the government and relevant international organizations, but also actively extend cooperation to those countries in which fisheries cooperatives are not so developed, so as to help them establish and develop fisheries cooperatives.
  • Food security of fishery products must be achieved on the basis of compliance with international, regional and national rules and regulations on fisheries resource conservation and management as well as environmental conservation. In doing so, due respect has to be paid to the culture and traditions of respective countries. In establishing trade rules of fishery products, sustainability of resources must be secured without falling into economy-rules-everything dogma, or, economy-first-ism.
  • It is from these standpoints that we ICFO resolve as follows: That we ICFO member organizations make efforts to promote community-based fisheries management and to contribute to food security; That we ICFO member organizations call for establishment of equitable trade rules that should ensure that fishers do not suffer from unreasonable disadvantages from international trade of fishery products; and for this purpose, actively appeal our cause to FAO, WTO and other international, regional and national organizations by taking every possible opportunity such as participation in the FAO/NGOs-CSOs Consultation for Asia and the Pacific etc..
  • 27 August, 2000, Yokohama, Japan
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