Against the Current: Charting a New Course for Human Rights in Sustainable Fisheries Management

Authors

James H. Stitt, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Abstract

The note advocates for a paradigm shift in fisheries management, moving beyond Western-centric regulatory frameworks to a holistic, human rights-based approach that integrates sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and social justice. It emphasizes the critical role of small-scale fisheries and Indigenous communities in achieving ecological and economic sustainability, arguing that their traditional knowledge and practices are essential for effective resource management. The analysis highlights the limitations of existing international frameworks, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF), in addressing the needs of small-scale and Indigenous fishers. The note proposes a framework that prioritizes equity, inclusion, and the protection of human rights, particularly through the implementation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles.

Disciplines

Comparative and Foreign Law | International Law | Law | Water Law

Recommended Citation

James H. Stitt, Against the Current: Charting a New Course for Human Rights in Sustainable Fisheries Management, 7 Cardozo Int’l & Compar. L. Rev. 305 (2024).
Available at: https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/ciclr/vol7/iss1/10