Sustainable Fishing

The Overfishing Crisis

Fish provide the primary source of protein for over 3 billion people and support the livelihoods of an estimated 600 million people globally. Yet the world's fisheries are in crisis. According to the FAO, approximately 35% of global fish stocks are now fished at biologically unsustainable levels — a dramatic increase from just 10% in 1974. A further 57% are fished at their maximum sustainable level, leaving only 8% underfished.

Overfishing disrupts the trophic balance of marine ecosystems. Removing large predatory fish such as tuna, cod and sharks allows their prey populations to explode, which in turn can cause cascading effects throughout the food chain. The collapse of Atlantic cod in the early 1990s devastated both the ecosystem of the Grand Banks and the coastal communities of Newfoundland that had depended on cod for generations.

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing represents one of the greatest threats to ocean sustainability. Estimated to account for up to 26 million tonnes of fish annually — worth between $10 and $23 billion — IUU fishing undermines conservation efforts, distorts markets and deprives coastal nations of revenues.

• IUU fishing is particularly prevalent in waters with weak governance, including the high seas and developing nations' Exclusive Economic Zones.
• It is often associated with other crimes including forced labour, human trafficking and drug smuggling aboard fishing vessels.
• Satellite monitoring, vessel tracking systems (AIS) and blockchain traceability are increasingly being used to combat IUU fishing.
• Consumer pressure for certified sustainable seafood is reducing market incentives for illegally caught fish.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture — the farming of fish, shellfish, seaweed and other aquatic organisms — is now the source of more than half of all seafood consumed globally, and is growing faster than any other food production sector. It has the potential to reduce pressure on wild fisheries and provide sustainable protein — but only if practised responsibly.

Poorly managed aquaculture can cause significant environmental damage — including pollution from waste feed and chemicals, habitat destruction (particularly through mangrove clearance for shrimp farms), disease transmission to wild populations, and the use of wild fish as feed for carnivorous farmed species such as salmon.

However, well-managed aquaculture — particularly of filter feeders such as oysters, mussels and seaweed — can be one of the most sustainable forms of food production, removing nutrients from the water and providing habitat for other species.

Pathways to Sustainable Fisheries

Achieving truly sustainable fisheries requires coordinated action at the international, national and individual levels. The pathways to sustainability include:

• Science-based catch limits: Setting fishing quotas based on rigorous stock assessments and enforcing them effectively.
• Eliminating harmful subsidies: Approximately $22 billion in annual government subsidies support overfishing. Redirecting these to sustainable practices would transform fisheries management.
• Expanding MPAs: Closing ecologically critical areas to fishing allows stocks to recover and spillover into fished areas.
• Improving traceability: Digital tools enabling consumers to verify the origin and sustainability of their seafood.
• Empowering small-scale fishers: Securing the rights of artisanal fishing communities who are the most sustainable and food-insecure users of ocean resources.
• Consumer choices: Choosing seafood certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or verified sustainable programmes.