CRISIS IN THE OCEANS Sustaining Fisheries in International Waters
The National Museum of American Diplomacy (NMAD) offers educators immersive programs that explore the goals and practice of diplomacy, teach diplomatic skills, build global competence, and illustrate how the critical work of American diplomats impacts people’s everyday lives. Lesson plans emphasize 21st century skills: creativity and innovation; critical thinking and problem solving; and communication and collaboration. These skills are keys to success for the next generation of global citizens. The Diplomacy Simulation Program is the museum’s premier educational tool. In a collaborative learning environment, students step into the shoes of real-life diplomats. The diplomacy simulations are designed for 15-30 participants, plus a teacher/moderator. Students receive a scenario related to a global issue, which could be real-world or hypothetical, current or historic. Within each simulation, there are five to six stakeholder groups (e.g., foreign ministries, NGOs, and international organizations), each with different perspectives and priorities. Students role-play these stakeholders in small teams of three to five. Under set time constraints, the groups are challenged to negotiate a peaceful solution to the crisis in the scenario. Students use the information provided in the simulation packet to develop their group’s policy positions and defend or modify their choices in real time. The simulations have no right or wrong actions or solutions because the process, rather than the end result, is the goal. The learning experience develops organically as the students engage in the simulation. Once the simulation has been completed, students are encouraged to express how their views on diplomacy have evolved as a result of the simulation, and to contemplate how they can apply diplomatic skills to their everyday lives. To access the complete Diplomacy Simulation Program, including training and subject matter expert videos, please visit diplomacy.state.gov The cover photograph was created by Shukhrat Umarov for Pexels and was edited for use in this publication. This publication was designed by Tiina Otala. Diplomacy Simulations are developed and presented by NMAD as an integral component of the museum’s education offerings. This document and all associated materials are intended exclusively for educational use. @NMADMuseum @NMADMuseum @NMADMuseum diplomacy.state.gov
[email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS Background and Scenario 1 3 4 Issue Background Scenario Stakeholders
1 Background and Scenario Oceans and fisheries are a key source of protein for over 3 billion people worldwide and are vital to the economic strength of many countries. As the world’s population has grown, the pressure on available fish stocks has greatly increased. Over 30% of the world’s fisheries have been overfished, and another 58% are already producing their maximum sustainable harvest. The ocean cannot provide an endless supply of seafood, and our current demand and practices run the risk of depleting ecosystems that are critical to the survival of marine life. Sustainable solutions must be found for this multifaceted problem to ensure the future of our world’s oceans and fisheries. Consequences of Commercial Fishing Overfishing is not the only threat to the health of our oceans. Unintended impacts of frequently used commercial fishing methods are also problematic. Bycatch – unintentional catch by fishing vessels – can harm species such as sea turtles, seabirds, and dolphins that are caught and killed by fishing gear. Bycatch can also be harmful to young fish that are important to the future population of a species. Habitat damage is another consequence of certain kinds of fishing practices, including things like bottom trawlers dragging nets through vulnerable marine ecosystems and destroying the places where fish and other species breed and live. International Fishing Standards and Solutions The concept of regulating access to and use of international waters for trade and military purposes has existed for centuries. Protecting and enforcing laws regarding the health of marine life and preserving fish stocks, however, is a more recent and continuing development. Exclusive Economic Zones The United Nations (UN) Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) aims to cooperate in the conservation and management of shared fish resources. When the convention was created in 1982, it specified that each country would protect and control the waters off their coasts. In the first 12 nautical miles offshore, called the territorial sea, countries have similar rights and jurisdiction as they do in their land territories. From there to up to 200 nautical miles off their coasts, countries have the right to control access to the resources within those waters, including fish, minerals, oil, and gas. UNCLOS labeled these areas exclusive economic zones (EEZs). The rest of the ocean, beyond the EEZs, is called the high seas and is generally open to everyone. Most of the world’s fish resources can be found within these EEZs, but some kinds of fish move freely between different territorial waters and the high seas. The establishment of EEZs, therefore, did not provide a global solution to the problems of overfishing and bycatch. In some cases, it created high seas pockets that present particular overfishing and competition challenges. ISSUE BACKGROUND APPROXIMATELY 90% of the world’s fish stocks are fully or over exploited
Background and Scenario 2 Compliance Agreement In 1993, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) adopted the Compliance Agreement. This agreement sets out the obligations of countries that authorize vessels to fish on the high seas, including ensuring these vessels do not undermine internationally agreed upon fishing rules. UN Fish Stocks Agreement In 1995, the FAO created the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and adopted the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The UN Fish Stocks Agreement covers how nations must cooperate to manage shared fishery resources through various Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs). These international organizations bring countries together to scientifically assess the status of fish stocks, adopt legally binding rules for fishing, and coordinate monitoring and enforcement. The Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, which is followed by the RFMOs, spells out best practices for managing fishing and aquaculture, including managing fishing capacity, protecting the broader ecosystem, and basing decisions on the best available science. Port State Measures Agreement In 2009, the FAO adopted the Port State Measures Agreement. This agreement is the first binding global treaty designed to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by specifying how countries must prevent vessels from offloading IUU fish in their ports. Illegal Fishing Challenges As resources become scarcer, more harvesters are willing to break the rules in order to catch fish. Competition among vessels, companies, and sometimes nations can be fierce, and these interests have led to IUU fishing and a disregard for the long-term sustainability of fish and other marine life. To complicate matters further, not all cases of IUU fishing are easily condemned – some countries and fisheries are vying for resources to feed starving people or save a failing economy. Many developing countries lack the resources to monitor and control all activity in their EEZs or the tools to punish those they catch breaking the rules. In addition, it is difficult to regulate all of the activity that occurs on the high seas. The ocean covers 71% of the Earth’s surface and much of that does not belong to a specific nation. Countries must cooperate to monitor fishing. Violators of the above agreements may face a loss of fishing rights or access for their fishing vessels to ports in other countries. Countries found supporting illegal fishing risk the threat of trade sanctions. In many areas, these agreements have created effective management that has allowed depleted fish stocks to rebuild and virtually eliminate IUU fishing. The FAO and a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) work to build countries’ abilities to manage their fisheries sustainably, including providing technical and financial support for monitoring their EEZs, and raising awareness of the need for better laws and practices. In this simulation exercise, you will focus on the declining fish population in the waters off the shores of the Confederated Islands of Hiroot, often referred to as Hiroot. The citizens of Uzan, a close neighbor of Hiroot, thrive on fish from the waters around Hiroot. As you try to address the issues in this situation, you will find that the stakeholders have different objectives. You will need to find common ground to solve the fish crisis, maintain jobs for the Hiroot people, and keep up with the demand for fish as food and as a marketable commodity.
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