Fisheries in the economies of Pacific Island countries and territories (Benefish Study 4)
This book gives the results of a study of the benefits to Pacific Island countries and territories from the fisheries in the region. This is the fourth study in the “Benefish” series, with previous studies published in 2001, 2008, and 2016 in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, the Forum Fisheries Agency, and the World Bank.
In this edition, the fisheries of the region are divided into six categories: coastal commercial; coastal subsistence; offshore locally based; offshore foreign-based; freshwater; and aquaculture. For each of these fishery types, the best available information is used to estimate annual production in recent years in each of the 22 countries and territories in terms of both value and volume. In addition, national estimates are made of the various types of benefits from the fisheries in five categories: the contributions to GDP, exports, government revenue, employment and food supplies.
The results from the above work enable comparisons between and across countries and over time. This assessment shows the relative importance of the six types of fisheries and how this importance has evolved over time—on both national and regional levels. It also identifies where data on the fisheries are insufficient and where additional efforts need to be made to prevent the dissipation of benefits. In addition, this study explores the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change on fishery production and associated benefits.
Recommendations are made for countries, regional agencies, international institutions and donors. These suggestions cover improvements to the measurement of fishery production and fishery benefits; undertaking future Benefish studies; and the importance of data in the fisheries management process.
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