Page 237 - 《水产学报》2025年第8期

何妤如 水产学报, 2025, 49(8): 089319

overseas territories generally engage in regional Policy (CFP) to the European Commission, which
fisheries management through their metropolitan collectively manages fisheries activities by Mem-
States, often relying on indirect representation for ber States both within EU waters and on the high
expressing positions, submitting proposals and seas areas. In this context, the EU generally engages
implementing CMMs. Considering the specific in intergovernmental organizations related to mar-
developmental needs of certain overseas territories, ine fisheries primarily as a Regional Economic
RFMOs have implemented scaled participation Integration Organization (REIO). Currently, the EU
mechanisms that afford limited engagement in fish- holds membership in five tuna-RFMOs, eleven non-
eries rule-making processes. These include partial tuna RFMOs and two RFMO-like bodies, namely,
involvement in developing CMMs, opportunities for the Fisheries Committee for the Eastern Central
diplomatic representation at meetings to express Atlantic (CECAF) and the Western Central Atlantic
positions, and provisions of tailored support. Throu- Fisheries Commission (WECAFC). However, cer-
gh these mechanisms, overseas territories and pos- tain territories of EU Member States lie outside the
sessions have been granted a degree of agency to formal CFP jurisdiction, as they are not part of the
garner international attention and assistance, des- EU and thus are not fully governed by EU fisheries
pite their constrained legal standing. Within the regulations. In such cases, the relevant Member
States may seek independent membership in spe-
WCPFC, seven overseas territories and possessions
participate in this modified capacity: American cific RFMOs. A notable example involves Denmark’
s self-governing territories —Greenland and the
Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands
(the United States); French Polynesia, New Caledo- Faroe Islands, which possess distinct marine eco-
systems. Their economies are heavily dependent
nia, and Wallis and Futuna (France); and Tokelau
on fisheries, necessitating international coopera-
(New Zealand). Article 30 of the WCPFC Conven-
[34]
tion for resource management . Denmark has
tion explicitly acknowledges these territories and
therefore scaled up the expression scope of its territ-
possessions’ vulnerabilities and special requireme-
orial jurisdictions, allowing Greenland and the
nts regarding the conservation and management of
Faroe Islands to join the Northeast Atlantic Fisher-
highly migratory fish stocks and the development of
ies Commission (NEAFC) and the Northwest
associated fisheries. It further mandates the estab-
Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) as con-
lishment of a special development fund to provide
tracting parties in their own rights. It also repres-
discretionary technical, human, and financial assist-
ents the Faroe Islands to obtain special participat-
ance, thereby situating these territories and posses-
ory status (without voting rights) in the SPRFMO
sions within the same discursive framework. Simil-
and the WCPFC. Meanwhile, mainland Denmark
arly, the SPRFMO grants distinct participatory
participates in these RFMOs through EU member-
status to overseas territories and possessions. Com-
ship. In terms of policy orientation, the EU is often
pared to fishing entities, however, overseas territor-
characterized as a “pragmatic environmental advoc-
ies and possessions mainly operate with more lim-
ate”, advancing its high environmental standards
ited autonomy, as their involvement is closely
through policy proposals on vulnerable species pro-
aligned with the diplomatic and policy preferences
tection and marine protected area management,
of their metropolitan States.

thereby extending its marine governance influence.

The European Union To ensure fair com-
petition for sustainable fisheries, the European 3.2 Scale representation in decision-making
Union (EU) Member States have delegated their The idea of “sustainable development” in fish-
exclusive competence for marine biological eries governance attempts to reconcile economic
resource conservation under the Common Fisheries growth with environmental protection while pre-

中国水产学会主办 sponsored by China Society of Fisheries https://www.china-fishery.cn
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