EQUAL ACCESS TO RFMO MEETINGS:
A crucial step towards
sustainable oceans
Support opening the world's fisheries management
organizations to the involvement of citizens, communities,
market players, and conservation advocates.
Join the growing ranks of organizations uniting to
support the opening of RFMO meetings globally:
Decisions made by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) have far reaching consequences for stakeholders around the world, be they consumers, workers, retailers, or the general public.
To help ensure that RFMO decision making reflects the interests - and input - of all stakeholders, not just industrial fishers, we propose a set of Equal Access Principles be adopted, implemented, and enforced in all global RFMOs.
leveling the RFMO playing field
Equal access principles
Decisions made by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) have far reaching consequences for stakeholders around the world, be they consumers, workers, retailers, or the general public.
To help ensure that RFMO decision making reflects the interests - and input - of all stakeholders, not just industrial fishers, we propose these Equal Access Principles be adopted, implemented, and enforced in all global RFMOs:
4
Interpret all rules relating to stakeholder observers and participation so as to ensure open and inclusive participation.
5
Mandate parity of treatment between stakeholders–NGOs, markets, producers and guarantee access to be heard by the delegations as well at national coordination, plenary, and subsidiary meetings.
6
Enact inclusive accreditation and participation rules to enable diverse stakeholder involvement, standardized across all RFMOs.
7
Implement clear and open guidelines for submitting written testimony and materials, free of any content-review process.
8
Remove undue restrictions on the rights of observers to make oral statements during the deliberation process rather than afterwards.
9
Recognize and include contributions made by stakeholder observers in any decision with potential impacts on the environment.
10
Promote partnership and joint activities with stakeholders with relevant expertise and/or local knowledge;
11
Make meeting locations and participation fees appropriate and reasonable for all participants.
12
Sustain stakeholders’ observer status even if one meeting is skipped.
Take part in the initiative
Become
an endorser
Opening access to RFMO meetings globally will require the support of a diverse movement of stakeholders. The current system where industrial fishing interests have preferred access will only reform when other stakeholders demand equal access.
