What does “sustainable fishing” really mean? Experts unite to redefine it
Experts are coming together to redefine the meaning of sustainable fishing, seeing the ocean destruction that has been called in its name.
The ocean has been mismanaged, and that is not only because of climate change, but poorly managed aquaculture. Fishing is considered to be among the greatest cause of ocean damage, environmentally and ecologically, especially when dredging is used. Meanwhile, smaller fishing operations from "artisanal communities" are becoming lost to time.
For change to happen, it must involve policymakers, retailers, fishers and leaders within the aquaculture industry. This is why ocean experts have come together to propose 11 “golden rules” to challenge and overcome some flaws existing in fisheries management, as well as the term "sustainable fishing" - which does not mean very much at all apart from catch limits.
The overarching aim of a sustainable future for fishing should clearly involve renewing and sustaining fish populations while steadily supplying food security for growing populations. Achieving this delicate balance however, might be more challenging than it first seems.
Rules for sustainable fishing
The rules newly proposed for sustainable fishing are:
1 - Fishing should minimise impacts on marine species and habitats through its activities.
2 - Be adapted to the effects of climate change. This may be through enabling the regeneration of depleted sea life and ecosystems
4 - Fishing should support communities in regards to their health, wellbeing and and resilience. This is particularly relevant to those that rely on the coast for their livelihoods. This also means supporting those most vulnerable rather than large corporations seeking only profit.
These guidelines are outlined in the work “Rethinking sustainability of marine fisheries for a fast-changing planet” which was recently published in Nature's journal named npj Ocean Sustainability.
Their work was published a week after Brussels’ Ocean Week, ahead of the UN Ocean Conference upcoming in Nice, France, in a few months. This comes after scientists downgraded their assessment of the ocean’s health status.
The meaning of sustainable fishing
The meaning of sustainable fishing has sometimes been more harmful than helpful. It can lead to mislabelling and excuses being made to deplete marine species, destroy their habitats and valuable carbon sinks in the ocean environment that provide resilience against climate change.
“The current concept of ‘sustainable fishing’, adopted by governments and private actors since the post-war period is scientifically obsolete,” said lead author Prof. Callum Roberts at the University of Exeter and chief scientist of the Convex Seascape Survey.
“It relies on a simplistic, productivist theory which assumes that as long as global catch volumes remain below a set limit, anyone can fish just about anything, anywhere, with any method.”
This limit is superficial as there are many more holistic factors to consider when it comes to sustainability, Roberts and other experts are arguing. This also relates to social inequalities, especially among fishing communities or those that rely on aquaculture.
Professor Jennifer Jacquet, of the University of Miami, added: "Can we truly claim that all fishing gear is environmentally and socially equal? We currently label fisheries as sustainable without considering their impact on marine ecosystems or human factors, such as crew safety and rights.”
This is a call for change in the industry and the seafood market. This is pertinent as the misleading labels on fish products have been increasingly exposed, such as the current news that labels have been used to conceal fish species of conservation concern in Calgary, Canada.
Source of the news:
Roberts, C., Béné, C., Bennett, N. et al. Rethinking sustainability of marine fisheries for a fast-changing planet. npj Ocean Sustain 3, 41 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-024-00078-2