Coastal and marine product trade management

The value of fish and fishery exports to developing countries is greater than any other agricultural commodity. Restrictive trade practices and high nutritional, quality and safety standards have made it difficult for developing countries to expand into international coastal and marine product trade markets. One form of product trade management is environmental certification schemes, which focus on protecting the environment and enforcing industry and environmental standards. Certification and overall trade management can make developing countries and their fisheries and aquaculture sectors more competitive in international coastal and marine products markets by demonstrating: compliance with market requirements and standards; and responsibility to consumers, the environment, and society. The benefits from compliance also yield technical efficiency in production, processing, and marketing, and better capacity to transact with buyers and negotiate in world forums.