Responsible fisheries - a prelude to the concept, context and praxis

The concept of Responsible Fisheries is synonymous with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF). CCRF is an international instrument for fisheries management which was developed and released by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) functioning under the United Nations on 31 OCTOBER 1995 after a series of international deliberations that began in 1992. More than 160 countries, including India are signatories to this international instrument which is considered as a landmark document symbolizing the international consensus achieved on the necessity for providing guidelines to ensure sustainable utilization of fisheries resources of the world. The most salient feature of this global instrument is its voluntary nature. The Code is often referred to as the Bible of Fisheries Management