These guidelines have been produced to support implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries with regard to safety at sea in the fisheries sector. Their purpose is to enable relevant authorities to develop and implement strategies aimed at improved safety, health and conditions of service at sea in capture fisheries and aquaculture operations. They apply to all commercial fishing activities, as well as activities at sea within the aquaculture sector. Furthermore, the principles therein, may also be applied to vessels engaged in fisheries research. However, while these guidelines are not directed at sport and recreational activities carried out within the aquatic environment, administrations responsible for such sectors may well take note of the safety and health issues therein. The guidelines contribute to Strategic Objective 5: Increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises.

Aimed at anybody that uses electro-fishing such as river keepers, members of rivers trusts, Environment Agency staff or anyone involved in the assessment of fish in rivers and is intended primarily for users of equipment in Great Britain and Republic of Ireland. To help users of electric-fishing equipment improve their understanding of the theory and practice of this important fisheries management tool, Bill Beaumont, from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust and an acknowledged world authority on this activity, has produced a unique 95 page operators manual, which gives clearly explained information on both the theory and practice of using the method.

The Expert Consultation was convened to review an initial draft of the International Guidelines as called for by the FAO Committee on Fisheries at its twenty-seventh session in 2007. This expert consultation was preceded by an expert consultation in November 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand, on deep-sea fisheries in the high seas. The consultation adopted a draft of the international guidelines to be forwarded on to a technical consultation for review and adoption.

Electricity in Fish Research and Management, 2nd Edition provides a comprehensive discussion of the uses of both electricity and electrical principles in fishery management and research. It covers electric fishing (including theory, equipment, data analysis and practical factors affecting efficiency), fish barriers, fish counters and fish welfare issues. The book concentrates on Electric Fishing (or Electrofishing); an internationally accepted and widely used procedure for sampling fish. Over the past 50 years electric fishing has become a standard method for fishery studies and management e.g. establishing population densities and abundance. However, due to the potential hazards of the method (both to operators and fish) there is a continuing need to develop and promote best practice guidelines. The author has studied fish ecology for 40 years and understands the need for information that reaches out to all levels of understanding in the field. Previous books on this subject have either been collections of scientific papers and/or technical reports or very simple instruction manuals. In this book theory and practice is explained using non-technical language and simple equations. It brings depth as well as breadth in both information and principles behind the methods and should be an invaluable tool to both fisheries managers and researchers. Although the book is aimed at undergraduates, the clear explanation of the factors means that the book is suitable for all levels of practitioners.