Water, fisheries and the depletion of marine resources

Abstract

In keeping with the title suggested by the organisers, this short paper deals with the subject of water resources, their pollution, fisheries deve- lopment and the depletion of marine resources. It presents an overall view on these subjects and restricts the scope of coverage to the Asian region. While all the issues raised are interrelated, no attempt is being made to give a comprehensive framework to what has been presented. Inklings of this can be picked up in the discussions that will follow and most certainly in the papers presented by the other contributors. The matter at hand is of crucial importance to the people of Asia and the Pacific. Water particularly in the form of seas, oceans and rivers — is an integral element in the culture and economy of these peoples and is in essence a great life source. By and large the crucial difference between land and water is that while most of the former comes under private possession the latter continues to remain in the realm of a common property resource. To the extend that this is so, the degradation of water sources and resources puts to jeopardy the last bastion of man's common heritage on earth.