FAO Major Fishing Areas: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:29, 16 February 2025

FAO Major Fishing Areas[edit]

The FAO Major Fishing Areas are a system of geographic delineations used by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to manage and report on global fisheries and aquaculture. These areas are crucial for the collection of statistical data on fish catches and for the management of marine resources.

Overview[edit]

The FAO Major Fishing Areas are divided into 19 major regions, each with a unique numerical code. These areas cover all the world's oceans and seas, providing a framework for the systematic collection of data on fishery production. The areas are used by governments, researchers, and international organizations to monitor and manage fish stocks, assess the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems, and develop sustainable fishing practices.

Purpose[edit]

The primary purpose of the FAO Major Fishing Areas is to facilitate the collection and analysis of data related to global fisheries. By standardizing the geographic regions, the FAO enables consistent reporting and comparison of fishery statistics across different countries and regions. This information is vital for:

Assessing the status of fish stocks
Developing sustainable fishing policies
Monitoring the impact of fishing on marine biodiversity
Supporting international agreements and regulations

List of FAO Major Fishing Areas[edit]

The FAO Major Fishing Areas are numbered from 18 to 88, covering the following regions:

Area 18: Arctic Sea
Area 21: Northwest Atlantic
Area 27: Northeast Atlantic
Area 31: Western Central Atlantic
Area 34: Eastern Central Atlantic
Area 37: Mediterranean and Black Sea
Area 41: Southwest Atlantic
Area 47: Southeast Atlantic
Area 48: Antarctic Atlantic
Area 51: Western Indian Ocean
Area 57: Eastern Indian Ocean
Area 58: Antarctic Indian Ocean
Area 61: Northwest Pacific
Area 67: Northeast Pacific
Area 71: Western Central Pacific
Area 77: Eastern Central Pacific
Area 81: Southwest Pacific
Area 87: Southeast Pacific
Area 88: Antarctic Pacific

Importance for Fisheries Management[edit]

The delineation of these areas allows for targeted management strategies that consider the unique ecological and economic characteristics of each region. By understanding the specific conditions and challenges of each area, policymakers can implement measures to:

Prevent overfishing
Protect endangered species
Maintain the health of marine ecosystems
Ensure the long-term viability of fishery resources

Related Pages[edit]

Template:FAO

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-{{svg-image}}
+== FAO Major Fishing Areas ==
-The [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] (FAO) Major Fishing Areas are defined regions set by the [[FAO]] to facilitate the management and conservation of [[fishery]] resources on a global scale. These areas are crucial for the assessment of fish stocks, the regulation of [[fishing]] activities, and the implementation of sustainable fishing practices. The FAO has divided the world's marine waters into 27 Major Fishing Areas, which include both inland and marine regions. Each area is designated by a unique number and, in some cases, further subdivided into sub-areas to better manage specific ecosystems and fish populations.
+[[File:FAO_Major_Fishing_Areas.svg|thumb|right|Map of FAO Major Fishing Areas]]
-==Overview==
+The '''FAO Major Fishing Areas''' are a system of geographic delineations used by the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] (FAO) to manage and report on global [[fisheries]] and [[aquaculture]]. These areas are crucial for the collection of statistical data on [[fish]] catches and for the management of [[marine resources]].
-The FAO Major Fishing Areas were established to provide a standardized framework for the collection and dissemination of fishery statistics. This categorization aids in the global effort to monitor and assess the health of fish stocks, understand fishing pressures, and implement effective fishery management practices. The areas cover the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean and Black Seas, among others.
-==List of FAO Major Fishing Areas==
+== Overview ==
-Below is a list of the FAO Major Fishing Areas, including both marine and inland waters:
-# Area 18 - Arctic Ocean
+The FAO Major Fishing Areas are divided into 19 major regions, each with a unique numerical code. These areas cover all the world's oceans and seas, providing a framework for the systematic collection of data on fishery production. The areas are used by governments, researchers, and international organizations to monitor and manage fish stocks, assess the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems, and develop sustainable fishing practices.
-# Area 21 - Northwest Atlantic
-# Area 27 - Northeast Atlantic
-# Area 31 - Western Central Atlantic
-# Area 34 - Eastern Central Atlantic
-# Area 37 - Mediterranean and Black Sea
-# Area 41 - Southwest Atlantic
-# Area 47 - Southeast Atlantic
-# Area 48 - Antarctic Atlantic
-# Area 51 - Western Indian Ocean
-# Area 57 - Eastern Indian Ocean
-# Area 58 - Antarctic Indian Ocean
-# Area 61 - Northwest Pacific
-# Area 67 - Northeast Pacific
-# Area 71 - Western Central Pacific
-# Area 77 - Eastern Central Pacific
-# Area 81 - Southwest Pacific
-# Area 87 - Southeast Pacific
-# Area 88 - Antarctic Pacific Ocean
-# Inland water areas are also designated, covering major lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across continents.
-==Importance==
+== Purpose ==
-The FAO Major Fishing Areas play a critical role in global fisheries management. They provide a geographical framework that helps in the assessment of fish stock status, the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems, and the effectiveness of management measures. By dividing the world's waters into these areas, the FAO facilitates the collection of comparable and consistent fishery data, which is essential for scientific research, policy-making, and the promotion of sustainable fishing practices.
-==Challenges==
+The primary purpose of the FAO Major Fishing Areas is to facilitate the collection and analysis of data related to global fisheries. By standardizing the geographic regions, the FAO enables consistent reporting and comparison of fishery statistics across different countries and regions. This information is vital for:
-Despite the establishment of these areas, global fisheries face significant challenges, including overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, habitat destruction, and the impacts of climate change. Effective management and conservation of fishery resources within the FAO Major Fishing Areas require international cooperation, robust governance frameworks, and the implementation of science-based management practices.
-==Conclusion==
+* Assessing the status of fish stocks
-The FAO Major Fishing Areas are a fundamental part of the global effort to manage and conserve fishery resources. By providing a standardized framework for the collection and analysis of fishery data, these areas help in the assessment and management of fish stocks, contributing to the sustainability of fisheries and the protection of marine biodiversity.
+* Developing [[sustainable fishing]] policies
+* Monitoring the impact of fishing on [[marine biodiversity]]
+* Supporting international agreements and regulations
+== List of FAO Major Fishing Areas ==
+The FAO Major Fishing Areas are numbered from 18 to 88, covering the following regions:
+* '''Area 18''': Arctic Sea
+* '''Area 21''': Northwest Atlantic
+* '''Area 27''': Northeast Atlantic
+* '''Area 31''': Western Central Atlantic
+* '''Area 34''': Eastern Central Atlantic
+* '''Area 37''': Mediterranean and Black Sea
+* '''Area 41''': Southwest Atlantic
+* '''Area 47''': Southeast Atlantic
+* '''Area 48''': Antarctic Atlantic
+* '''Area 51''': Western Indian Ocean
+* '''Area 57''': Eastern Indian Ocean
+* '''Area 58''': Antarctic Indian Ocean
+* '''Area 61''': Northwest Pacific
+* '''Area 67''': Northeast Pacific
+* '''Area 71''': Western Central Pacific
+* '''Area 77''': Eastern Central Pacific
+* '''Area 81''': Southwest Pacific
+* '''Area 87''': Southeast Pacific
+* '''Area 88''': Antarctic Pacific
+== Importance for Fisheries Management ==
+The delineation of these areas allows for targeted management strategies that consider the unique ecological and economic characteristics of each region. By understanding the specific conditions and challenges of each area, policymakers can implement measures to:
+* Prevent overfishing
+* Protect [[endangered species]]
+* Maintain the health of marine ecosystems
+* Ensure the long-term viability of fishery resources
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Fisheries management]]
+* [[Sustainable fishing]]
+* [[Marine conservation]]
+* [[Aquaculture]]
+{{FAO}}
 [[Category:Fisheries]]
-[[Category:FAO]]
 [[Category:Marine conservation]]
+[[Category:Food and Agriculture Organization]]