Governance, Policy and Economics
Effective governance structures, policies, and economic incentives can promote sustainable fisheries practices and ensure equitable distribution of benefits among stakeholders. Fisheries policies, such the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), aim to balance economic and social objectives with environmental sustainability goals. These are implemented through evidence-based fisheries management plans that can contain a detailed roadmap for achieving specific objectives, restrictions on fishing effort and contain specific control rules and technical measures. Economic incentives, such as catch share programs and market-based mechanisms (ecolabelling), can also encourage sustainable fishing practices and provide economic benefits to fishermen and fishing communities. Good governance practices, such as transparency, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration, are critical for ensuring effective fisheries management.
MRAG Europe works across a range of oceanic, coastal and inland environments and has developed practical and theoretical approaches, tools and methods to develop new, and enhance existing governance structures. We have dealt with governance and policy at all levels, from writing legislation and regulations, to testing impacts on sectoral models to judge optimum outcomes for industry, the economy, and the wider environment. The company has provided advice on legislative and policy assessments for the UNDP (UNCLOS) and FAO, RMFOs (IOTC, CCAMLR), and the EU. MRAG Europe has worked with the European Commission under multiple framework contracts to conduct various ex-ante and ex-post policy evaluations for the Common Fisheries Policy, including its external dimensions. This also includes providing specific governance support to help implement the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 within Small Island Developing States.
