Associate Dean for Research; Professor of International Business and Development
This research insights brief titled "Towards fairer global marine fisheries: Empowering coastal countries to negotiate fairer access arrangements" sheds light on the economically uneven and politically contested realm of access to the resources of coastal countries by distant water fishing fleets.
Going beyond technical solutions, the brief emphasises the need for coastal countries to comprehend the true costs when offering concessions to resource-seeking fleets. It challenges the prevalent notion of a one-size-fits-all policy solution, urging for a nuanced approach to address these access relations shaped by political, economic, and physical geographies.
Designed for policymakers in developing coastal states and NGOs dedicated to environmental and developmental causes, this brief contains insights that could empower coastal countries to capture the full economic benefits of their resource-rich seas.
Additionally, key stakeholders, including West African regional organisations in fisheries and economic integration, and the governments of Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles (Indian Ocean Commission), will find actionable insights to enhance local capture of economic benefits from fisheries.
Now, more than ever, as the global South grapples with a debt crisis, the imperative to maximise access revenues and eliminate discounts becomes paramount. This brief is a crucial resource for those shaping policies, practices, and priorities towards fairer global marine fisheries.
Coastal countries (resource owners) should understand what they are giving away when offering ‘discounts’ to distant water fleets (resource seekers) in return for localisation of vessels or onshore investment in fish factories. While domestication/localisation is a reasonable development objective, the loss in revenue might be better used in other areas.— Professor Liam Campling
Professor Liam Campling
Political economist working on problems of corporate power, distribution and development in the global oceans. Professor Campling works collectively at the Centre on Labour, Sustainability and Global Production, is co-author of Capitalism and the Sea (Verso, 2021), Free Trade Agreements and Global Labour Governance (Routledge, 2021) and co-editor of Labour Regimes and Global Production (Agenda/Columbia University Press, 2022).
Are you an academic at the School of Business and Management and want to share your research insights in a brief? Email Dr Elena Doldor, Research Impact & Engagement Director, at e.r.doldor@qmul.ac.uk.