Precaution, ICES and the common fisheries policy: a study of regime interplay

This article examines the interplay between the precautionary provisions in the global fisheries regime and problem-solving under (1) the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and (2) the EU Common Fisheries Policy. The causal processes are partly ideational (learning-driven) and partly normative (commitments-driven). The effect is synergistic: the UN Fish Stocks Agreement strengthened the hand of those within ICES and EU fisheries bodies who favoured greater safety margins, long-term planning and pre-agreement on recovery plans for endangered stocks—without disrupting cooperative relations. There is some awareness among participants in source and target regimes of the fact of interaction and also preparedness to respond to it.