Topic: Protecting International Fisheries
Country: Venezuela
Delegate Name: Allyson Suandi
School: Williamston High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Venezuela position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
As members of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), it is the responsibility to protect the environment and to preserve biodiversity for the well being of mankind. Key to this is addressing the topic of protecting international fisheries. Countries rely on the fishing industry to enhance their development, and for many of these states, it is a vital part of their food and agriculture economies. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that as much as 50% of global fisheries gathered fish at an unsustainable rate for their ecosystems. If the UNEP does not come up with an adequate resolution, many global economies will plunge and aquatic ecosystems will be destroyed. The UNEP must work together as a committee, to make sure that we are able to adequately monitor and preserve the diversity and sustainability of our global fisheries.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, a proud member of the esteemed United Nations Environment Programme, values greatly its responsibility to protect the environment and preserve biodiversity on behalf of all peoples. Particularly important toward achieving this goal is the protection of international fisheries. For too long, western powers, acting without regard for the livelihoods of the peoples of the global south, have fished and fished and fished, destroying ecosystems, crushing local economies, and ultimately subjecting billions under their capitalistic behaviour. Venezuela hopes that the UNEP works together in this committee to preserve and protect the oppressed peoples of third countries. The Venezuelan people count upon the bounty of the seas to ensure the prosperity of the socialist state. Venezuela is the world’s fourth largest tuna producer. The Venezuelan economy rides on fisheries as it contributes to its people’s well being, as much of the jobs in the country go towards fishing. Venezuela has increased public awareness of improving biodiversity which has also helped the environment. However, Venezuela does not have a specific limit on fish stocks that take into account how much fish needs to be left in order to sustain the environment. As a result, Venezuela feels compelled to propose a protocol which will more accurately measure fish stocks, so that the damages inflicted upon the environment can be more accurately assessed and damages sought.
Furthermore, Venezuela wholeheartedly would like to stand by and create a resolution that includes proper protection of the ecosystem. One solution that Venezuela would like to add onto a resolution is to implement a ban on fishing for endangered species for new industries. This will allow for the situation to not worsen anymore than its current state. The solution that Venezuela will write in a resolution is for fisheries to limit their catchings to an ecologically safe rate by using catch shares, which is a management system that allows fish stocks to grow while limiting the amount of fish catched. These catch levels should take into consideration how much fish there needs to be left over in order to support other fish, which will allow a steady flow of fish in the ocean and fish out of the ocean for many years. These shares will also limit certain countries from poaching too many fish from others. In certain areas, share licenses can be given to each industry, putting a limit on how much seafood they can catch. These limits will also allow fishermen to choose their own deadlines so they will not have to rush during the fishing season and catch seafood by using sustainable fishing methods.
