A group of leading marine experts has called for action to end the “continuing destruction of our oceans by fishing”, saying the current definition of sustainable fishing is “dangerously flawed”.
In a paper published in the journal Ocean Sustainability, the researchers laid out 11 “golden rules” that they say will help fish populations recover to feed future generations.
These include limiting the size of vessels and equipment, incorporating ecosystem protection into fisheries management, and eliminating “harmful subsidies” to fishing.
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Professor Paul Kemp, from the University of Southampton, co-author of the paper, said: “This work has brought together a diverse group of experts across fisheries science, social science, economics and nature conservation.
“In doing so, we’ve been able to create a roadmap for moving away from the traditional view of fisheries, which tends to focus on the social and economic circumstances of the people who use them.”
“But sustainability requires the integration of social, economic and environmental spheres. This paper provides a declaration that will help ensure our fisheries are available for sustainable use for future generations.”
Other proposed rules include reducing catches to reduce impacts, sourcing fish only from fisheries with well-managed and sustainable stocks, and making the most vulnerable species and areas off-limits.
The researchers also call for an end to fishing practices that violate human rights, including those that threaten the food security and livelihoods of fishing communities.
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They also call for the establishment of a fisheries management system that ensures fair and transparent distribution of access to and benefits from fishing, applies good practices wherever fishing companies operate, and has zero tolerance for companies engaged in illegal fishing.
The researchers say current sustainability standards support “capital-rich industrial practices that benefit the Global North” but harm ecosystems and put “traditional fisheries, food security and jobs” at risk.
Lead author Prof Callum Roberts, from the University of Exeter, said: “The current concept of ‘sustainable fishing’, adopted by governments and private actors since the post-war period, is scientifically outdated.
“It is based on a simplistic productivist theory that says anyone can fish anywhere, in any way, and in any way, as long as global catches stay below set limits.”
The report calls on policy makers, retailers and fisheries managers to acknowledge flaws in current fishing practices, prioritise the adoption of the proposed Golden Rules, and for supermarkets to play a “vital role” in any changes.
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Ben Mitchell is a PA reporter.
