International legal requirements for environmental and socio-cultural assessments for large-scale industrial fisheries

Abstract

This article seeks to clarify the extent of international legal requirements for environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) for large-scale industrial fisheries, including whether these requirements entail the assessments of potential social and cultural impacts of the sector's activities. We discuss the current practices of impact assessments more generally and explain the potential and actual environmental and social impacts caused by large-scale industrial fisheries. Based on this analysis, we revisit the international legal foundations for a duty to carry out EIAs, arguing that such a duty applies to large-scale industrial fisheries. We also argue that EIAs for large-scale industrial fisheries, as well as SEAs for related policies and programmes, should integrate the assessment of social and cultural impacts, based on a mutually supportive interpretation of international law regimes dedicated to the sea, fisheries, biodiversity and human rights.