57
Components of the FDES and the Basic Set of Environment Statistics
57
Topic 2.5.2:
Aquatic resources
3.123. Aquatic resources comprise fish, crustaceans, molluscs, shellfish, aquatic mammals
and other aquatic organisms that are considered to live within the boundaries of the EEZ of
a country throughout their life cycles, including both coastal and inland fisheries. Migrating
and straddling fish stocks are considered to belong to a given country during the period when
those stocks inhabit its EEZ.
3.124. Aquatic resources are harvested for commercial reasons and as part of recreational and
subsistence fishing activities. The abundance and health of natural aquatic resources in inland
and marine waters are also increasingly affected by water pollution and habitat degradation.
The dual impacts of excessive exploitation levels and habitat degradation result in the loss, or
reduction of the goods, functions and services provided by the aquatic ecosystems, including
the loss of biodiversity and genetic resources. The unsustainable extraction of marine resources
is caused partly by illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
3.125. Stocks of aquatic resources are difficult to measure in inland and marine waters,
although certain estimation methodologies may be considered for this purpose. Aquaculture
stocks can be estimated more frequently.
3.126. Aquatic resources may be either cultivated or natural biological resources. Aquatic
resources produced within aquaculture facilities (for breeding or for harvest) are considered
cultivated biological resources. All other aquatic resources harvested as part of capture pro
duction processes are considered natural biological resources. Changes in the stocks of aquatic
resources are the result of growth in stocks, total removals and, natural and catastrophic losses.
Stock changes should be estimated separately for natural and cultivated resources, the most
important aquatic groups/species, and marine and freshwater groups/species.
3.127. Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, molluscs, crusta
ceans and aquatic plants. Farming implies some form of intervention in the rearing process to
enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding, protection from predators, etc. Farming
also implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated.55 Aquaculture
activities may also include the application of colourants, pellets, antibiotics, fungicides, hor
mones and other substances. Statistics on these aspects of aquaculture are very important to
assess their impact on the environment.
3.128. The FAO International Standard Statistical Classification of Aquatic Animals and
Plants (ISSCAAP) is commonly used for statistics on aquatic resources.56 The FAO has also
developed a set of catch concepts for the different stages of the catch, depending on the inclu
sion or exclusion of by-catch and by-product.57 The measurement of discarded catch is an
important component in order to understand fully the linkages between economic activity
and the impact on aquatic resources.
3.129. The most important economic activity related to the extraction, harvesting and man
agement of aquatic resources is fishing and aquaculture (ISIC Rev. 4, Section A, Division 03).
This division includes capture fishery and aquaculture, covering the use of fishery resources
from marine, brackish or freshwater environments, with the goal of capturing or gathering
fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other marine organisms and products (e.g., aquatic plants,
pearls and sponges).
3.130. The use of aquatic products in the economy and by households can be captured in
physical and monetary supply and use tables originating from national accounts. The SEEA-CF
links aquatic resources to their use in the economy and to the SNA.
55 Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United
Nations (1997). “Rural
Aquaculture: Overview and
Framework for Country Reviews”,
available from www
.fao.org/docrep/003/x6941e
/x6941e04.htm (accessed
4 August 2017).
56 Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United
Nations. “International Standard
Statistical Classification of
Aquatic Animals and Plants”,
available from ftp://ftp.fao.org
/fi/document/cwp/handbook
/annex/AnnexS2listISSCAAP2000
.pdf (accessed 4 August 2017).
57 Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United
Nations. Coordinating Working
Party on Fishery Statistics,
“Handbook of Fishery Statistical
Standards”, available from ftp://
ftp.fao.org/FI/DOCUMENT
/cwp/handbook/annex
/AnnexB1CatchConcepts.pdf
(accessed 4 August 2017).
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013) 58 Table 3.2.5.2 Statistics and related information for Topic 2.5.2 Component 2: Environmental Resources and their Use Subcomponent 2.5: Biological Resources Topic 2.5.2: Aquatic resources Statistics and related information Category of measurement Potential aggregations and scales Methodological guidance (Bold text—Core Set/Tier 1; regular text—Tier 2; italicized text—Tier 3) a. Fish capture production Mass •• By relevant freshwater and marine species •• National •• Subnational •• FAO International Standard Statisti cal Classification of Aquatic Animals and Plants (ISSCAAP) •• ISIC Rev. 4, Section A, Division 03 •• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) •• UNSD: MDG Indicator 7.4 Metadata •• HS 2012, Section I, Chapter 03 •• SEEA Central Framework (2012) b. Aquaculture production Mass c. Imports of fish and fishery products Currency, mass, volume •• By relevant freshwater and marine species •• By type of product •• By species d. Exports of fish and fishery products Currency, mass, volume e. Amount used of: •• By type of water (i.e., marine or freshwater) •• National •• Subnational
- Pellets (also in 3.4.1.c) Mass, volume
- Hormones (also in 3.4.1.d) Mass, volume
- Colourants (also in 3.4.1.e) Mass, volume
- Antibiotics (also in 3.4.1.f) Mass, volume
- Fungicides Mass, volume f. Aquatic resources •• By relevant freshwater and marine species •• By type (e.g., natural or cultivated) •• National •• Subnational
- Stocks of aquatic resources Mass
- Additions to aquatic resources Mass
- Reductions in aquatic resources Mass Topic 2.5.3: Crops 3.131. Crops refer to plants or agricultural produce grown for food or other economic pur poses, such as clothes or livestock fodder (ISIC Rev. 4, Section A, Division 01). In its race to improve crop production, modern large-scale agriculture has increased the use of anthropo genic inputs in the form of labour, irrigation, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and new or modi fied genetic material. On the other hand, small-scale agriculture, which may be less resource intensive, may be more environmentally friendly. 3.132. In terms of environment statistics, both the area used for cultivated crops and yields are important. Furthermore, crop production methods, which can have different environ mental consequences, are highly relevant. Monoculture, the practice of growing one type of crop intensively over an area, can benefit farmers because of its uniform growing require ments and standardized planting, maintenance and pest control. Overall, monoculture and resource-intensive farming have increased crop yield, greatly reducing the amount of land needed for crop production. However, in recent decades, the rise of monocultures has also led to widespread environmental sustainability concerns, including soil nutrient loss, widespread pest invasions and biodiversity loss. Organic production is growing in importance, benefiting both the environment and human health, but it still constitutes a small proportion of crops worldwide. 3.133. The application of biotechnology in the agriculture sector has led to the increased use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products derived from them. GMOs are organ isms produced through techniques in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination”.58 These organisms may include genetically modified seeds and grain, plant tubers, spores, plant t0issue and cells. Measuring their use is an important aspect of environment statistics because of their relevance in maintaining genetic variability, possible effect on non-target organisms and implication in the evolution of pest resistance and loss of biodiversity. Maintaining genetic variability is also interconnected with genetic resources, which should not be confused with GMOs. Genetic 58 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2002). “Codex Alimentarius. Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme”, available from www.fao.org /docrep/005/y2772e/y2772e04 .htm (accessed 4 August 2017).
59
Components of the FDES and the Basic Set of Environment Statistics
59
resources are defined as the genetic material of plants, animals or microorganisms contain
ing functional units of heredity that are of actual or potential value as a resource for future
generations of humanity.59 Although statistics on genetic resources are not collected, they are
accounted for through the Nagoya Protocol, which ensures the conservation and sustainable
use of genetic resources.
3.134. For environment statistics, this topic covers statistics about the area used for and the
production of main crop types, annual and perennial crops, different planting methods, mono
culture and resource-intensive farming systems, the use of GMOs, and organic farming. Area
harvested is especially important when measuring sown or planted areas (gross) versus har
vested areas (net).60 Fertilizers play a key role in the yield and quantity of crops produced, as
well as in the environmental effects of agriculture. Therefore, the amount of natural fertilizers,
such as manure or compost, and chemical fertilizers are also relevant. Because of their effect
on biodiversity, invasive pests and pollution, statistics on the use of pesticides (e.g., fungicides,
herbicides, insecticides and rodenticides) are also considered essential to environment statis
tics. With the significant growth of modern intensive farming practices and genetically modi
fied crops, constructing these statistics can be particularly relevant to some countries. Finally,
imports and exports of crops can also be an important measure of total production, apparent
national consumption and, possibly, the associated pressure on the environment. The main
institution providing data, besides the NSO, is usually the agricultural authority.
59 Convention on Biological
Diversity (1992). “Article 2. Use of
terms”, available from www.cbd
.int/convention/articles/default
.shtml?a=cbd-02 (accessed
4 August 2017).
60 Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United
Nations (2011). “Crops
Statistics—Concepts, definitions
and classifications”, available
from www.fao.org
/fileadmin/templates/ess
/ess_test_folder/documents
/Production_trade/definitions
/Crops_statistics_concepts
_definitions_classifications.doc
(accessed 4 August 2017).
Table 3.2.5.3
Statistics and related information for Topic 2.5.3
Component 2: Environmental Resources and their Use
Subcomponent 2.5: Biological Resources
Topic 2.5.3: Crops
Statistics and related information
Category of
measurement
Potential aggregations
and scales
Methodological guidance
(Bold text—Core Set/Tier 1; regular text—Tier 2;
italicized text—Tier 3)
a.
Main annual and perennial crops
•• By crop
•• By size
•• National
•• Subnational
•• FAO Indicative Crop Classification (for
2010 round of agricultural censuses)
•• FAO/WHO Specifications for Pesticides
(2010)
•• FAO Specifications for Commonly Used
Fertilizers (2009)
•• ISIC Rev. 4, Section A, Division 1
•• FAOSTAT database
•• HS 2012, Section II
- Area planted Area
- Area harvested Area
- Amount produced Mass
- Amount of organic production Mass
- Amount of genetically modified crops produced Mass b. Amount used of: •• By type of fertilizer •• By type of pesticide •• By crop •• National •• Subnational
- Natural fertilizers (e.g., manure, compost, lime) (also in 3.4.1.a) Area, mass, volume
- Chemical fertilizers (also in 3.4.1.a) Area, mass, volume
- Pesticides (also in 3.4.1.b) Area, mass, volume
- Genetically modified seeds Mass •• By crop •• National •• Subnational c. Monoculture/resource-intensive farming systems •• By crop •• By size •• National •• Subnational
- Area being used for production Area
- Amount produced Mass
- Amount of genetically modified crops produced Mass d. Imports of crops Currency, mass e. Exports of crops Currency, mass
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013) 60 Topic 2.5.4: Livestock 3.135. Livestock are animal species that are raised by humans for commercial purposes, con sumption or labour (ISIC Rev. 4, Section A, Division 01). Usually raised in agricultural settings, typical livestock species include cows, poultry, pigs, goats and sheep. Rising incomes and grow ing populations, especially in the developing world, have led to higher demands for livestock products, including milk, eggs and meat, thus driving growth in the livestock sector.61 None theless, livestock rearing is associated with multiple environmental effects. Livestock produc tion contributes to GHG emissions. Animal husbandry (grazing and production of feedstock) occupies a large percentage of land, directly or indirectly. Clearing land for pasture and feed crops has led to widespread deforestation and biodiversity loss and overgrazing leads to erosion and compaction. Furthermore, livestock production accounts for large amounts of water use and constitutes a source of water pollution from hormone use and other chemicals, as well as from the inadequate handling of manure. 3.136. A limited number of genetically modified animals, animal substances, tissues and micro-organisms have been introduced in the production of livestock and fish to date. The goal is to add economic value by introducing specific substances or tissue modifications. This could produce unintended environmental effects relating to the place of introduction or the nature of expression of GMOs. 3.137. Despite these prevalent environmental implications, however, livestock contributes to the livelihoods of millions of the world’s poor, providing an income source, and sometimes the only source, for many. Therefore, measuring livestock impacts and driving efficiency in the production line is vital. 3.138. Environmentally relevant statistics on livestock include the number and characteristics of live animals, as well as antibiotics and hormones used for them. Furthermore, imports and exports of livestock are also a good measure of national livestock quantity and, possibly, of pressure on the environment. 3.139. The main provider of data for livestock statistics is usually the agricultural authority or the NSO. 61 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2006). “Livestock impacts on the environment”. Table 3.2.5.4 Statistics and related information for Topic 2.5.4 Component 2: Environmental Resources and their Use Subcomponent 2.5: Biological Resources Topic 2.5.4: Livestock Statistics and related information Category of measurement Potential aggregations and scales Methodological guidance (Bold text—Core Set/Tier 1; regular text—Tier 2; italicized text—Tier 3) a. Livestock •• By type of animal •• National •• Subnational •• FAOSTAT database •• ISIC Rev. 4, Section A, Division 01 •• HS 2012, Section I, Chapter 01
- Number of live animals Number
- Number of animals slaughtered Number b. Amount used of:
- Antibiotics (also in 3.4.1.f) Mass
- Hormones (also in 3.4.1.d) Mass c. Imports of livestock Currency, number d. Exports of livestock Currency, number