Nearly three quarters of the most important wild fish stocks around the world are exploited at their maximum level, over-exploited or threatened today by over-exploitation (footnote). In certain areas, continuation of the policies and fishing practices of the last few decades is neither responsible nor sustainable, from environmental, social or economic points of view.

Because of this reality, it is highest priority to build synergies between actors of the fishing sector around the world. That is the reason why, at an international level, civil society organizations, private companies and public institutions have decided to unite their efforts in order to reverse this trend and to create an action group to promote responsible fishing; a group named the RFA (Responsible Fishing Alliance).

Members of the Alliance are private or public legal entities: companies with commercial statutes, public or semi-public organizations, associations, co-operatives, and private collectives engaged in fishing activities or using fishery products.

The objective of this international alliance is the sustainable development of wild-fish fisheries and fisheries from alternative fish farming. In order to guarantee sustainability, several aspects of the fishing must be considered:

• The environmental aspect: long-term management of wild-fish resources, protection of ecosystems,
• The social and economic aspects: decent working conditions and incomes for the actors of the fishing sector, defense of cultural specificities (especially for small-scale fishing),
• Food security and food safety for consumers (developing and developed countries).

Texts founders of the organization: 

• R.F.A.CHARTER (PDF)(ENG)(50Kb) “Une Alliance pour une Pêche Responsable”
• R.F.A CONVENTION (PDF)(ENG)(64KB)