This document aims to provide a better understanding of the role of the economic, institutional and sociocultural components within the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) process and to examine some potential methods and approaches that may facilitate the adoption of EAF management. It explores both the human context for the ecosystem approach to fisheries and the human dimensions involved in implementing the EAF. For the former, the report provides background material essential to understand prior to embarking on EAF initiatives, including an understanding of key concepts and issues, of the valuation of aquatic ecosystems socially, culturally and economically, and of the many policy, legal, institutional, social and economic considerations relevant to the EAF. With respect to facilitating EAF implementation, the report deals with a series of specific aspects: (1) determining the boundaries, scale and scope of the EAF; (2) assessing the various benefits and costs involved, seen from social, economic, ecological and management perspectives; (3) utilizing appropriate decision-making tools in EAF; (4) creating and/or adopting internal incentives and institutional arrangements to promote, facilitate and fund the adoption of EAF management; and (5) finding suitable external (non-fisheries) approaches for financing EAF implementation.

The need to understand the human dimensions of the ecosystems approach to fisheries management is crucial to this study. Significant attention has been directed to defining the human dimensions within the context of the ecosystems approach to fisheries. This study outlines human dimensions in the hake sector in South Africa in terms of hake fish workers. The hake fish workers condition of employment, security of employment, social security issues, remunerations and their living conditions forms part of the social, economic and political dimensions in hake fisheries. The need for ensuring sustainable long-term utilisation of the hake resource and to manage, prevent and reduce all adverse effects of harvesting the hake stock through knowledge based intervention is crucial to this study. Sustainable fisheries management can use the working and living conditions of fish workers as indicators for effective management of fisheries. Fish workers issues, which include their conditions of service, contractual agreements, work safety, income, working hours and other human dimensions, may have an effect on the effective sustainable management. Ecosystems approaches takes into consideration the human dimensions and ecological consideration for effective fisheries management. Knowledge of the historical and economic importance of the hake sector is crucial for the planning and future of the fisheries. Applying the concept of the ecosystems approaches to hake fisheries management is also critical in understanding the human dimensions in hake fisheries.

"These guidelines have been developed in response to requests for further information on the practical adoption and application of the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF), with a special focus on its human dimensions. Human dimensions play four main roles in EAF: (1) social, economic and institutional objectives and factors are driving forces behind the need for EAF management; (2) the costs and benefits to individuals and to society of appli\ying the EAF have social, economic and institutional impacts and implications; (3) the application of social, economic and institutional instruments are all crucial for successful implementation of the EAF; and (4) social, economic and institutional factors present in fishery systems can play either supporting or constraining roles in EAF implementation.

"These guidelines have been developed in response to requests for further information on the practical adoption and application of the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF), with a special focus on its human dimensions. Human dimensions play four main roles in EAF: (1) social, economic and institutional objectives and factors are driving forces behind the need for EAF management; (2) the costs and benefits to individuals and to society of appli\ying the EAF have social, economic and institutional impacts and implications; (3) the application of social, economic and institutional instruments are all crucial for successful implementation of the EAF; and (4) social, economic and institutional factors present in fishery systems can play either supporting or constraining roles in EAF implementation.

Written by and for scholars, planners, and policymakers, Natural Resource Management: The Human Dimension focuses on issues such as the publics role in the decision-making processes of ecosystem management that affect how we use (or abuse) resources. It exposes the reader to a wide variety of applications of Human Dimensions Research, as well as to significant issues involved. One of the greatest needs in natural resource management is for a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between humans and the natural environment. Human Dimensions Research, an interdisciplinary field involving a broad variety of social science approaches, seeks to fill this need by providing multidimensional assessments of peoples’ behavior, attitudes, and expectations toward natural resources and their uses. Written by and for scholars, planners, and policymakers, Natural Resource Management: The Human Dimension focuses on issues such as the publics role in the decision-making processes of ecosystem management that affect how we use (or abuse) resources. It exposes the reader to a wide variety of applications of Human Dimensions Research, as well as to significant issues involved. At a time when we are either loving our forests and parks to death or paving them over, a better understanding of the problems is critical if we are to create workable policies that will preserve and protect our natural resources