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    The course series “Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries” is designed to provide guidance on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) and its application to fisheries management. The EAF is a holistic fisheries management approach considered by FAO to be the principal framework for achieving sustainable fisheries and promoted by the EAF-Nansen Programme. It has been adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) as the appropriate and practical way to fully implement the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The course series consists of the following six courses:

    Course

    Ecosystem approach to fisheries - Introduction

    This first course provides a comprehensive overview of the world fisheries and goes on explaining fisheries management, its objectives, mechanisms and challenges. Subsequently Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) is introduced, explaining its underlying principles and key elements.

    2 h 20 m

    Course

    Ecosystem approach to fisheries - Planning

    The second course focuses on the steps needed to begin an Ecosysten Approach to Fisheries (EAF) process, including building the project team, understanding the key actors and institutions who comprise the stakeholders, and developing a Baseline report. The course also explores how, upon approval of the Baseline report, to identify and prioritize elements of the fishery and from this, how to set objectives and develop an EAF Management Plan.

    2 h 15 m

    Course

    Ecosystem Approach to fisheries - Implementation

    The third course focuses on how to implement a Fishery Management Plan (FMP), including consideration of whether and how to formalize the plan, and development of an Operational Plan.

    50 m

    Course

    Ecosystem approach to fisheries - Monitoring and review

    The fourth course explains the need to regularly monitor and assess the outcomes of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) implementation, then review and, if necessary, adapt the Fisheries Management Plan, and report on performance. This course was designed to provide guidance on the key aspects related to the monitoring and review process of an EAF.

    40 m

    Course

    Ecosystem approach to fisheries - Policy and legal implementation

    This course aims to support the implementation of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) through policy and legal frameworks. It offers guidance in all the steps of implementing an EAF through policy and legal frameworks, also supporting the development of an EAF Implementation Roadmap that aims to foster national inter-sectoral collaboration for the effective implementation of an EAF at national level.

    40 m

    Course

    Ecosystem approach to fisheries - Implementation monitoring tool

    This course features the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Implementation Monitoring Tool (EAF-IMT), a simple method to monitor progress in implementation of the EAF in fisheries management, that aims to support fisheries management planning and decision-making. This course was designed to explain why and how to use the EAF-IMT and associated material.

    45 m

    Each course concludes with a final test. A digital badge certificate is issued upon successful completion of the test.

    Depending on the interest of learners, the self-paced course series can be completed as a whole (which is preferable), or as individual courses (or lessons), taken independently.

    Throughout the course series, references are made to specific courses or lessons where certain subjects are covered more extensively. Each course takes the learner step-by-step through the learning content using interactive screens and is complemented by exercises and links to additional material and websites for further reading.