Fisheries provide a significant amount of the world's protein supply. That is until recent times. By now you've probably been subject to an onslaught of campaigns championing such things as slow food and sustainable habitats; and while you are not one to slack on doing your part to forge ahead and go green, it is often quite confusing what it is you're supposed to do exactly. For instance, when it comes to the matter of fisheries, sustainable practices and general eco-friendliness, there isn't a whole lot of clarity in the matter. However, the fact is, many of the species of fish we consume and even those we don't, are dying out. Their populations are being depleted due to overfishing. According to the grim facts, the world's fishing fleet is 250% larger than what the ocean can reasonably produce.
Some of the key issues facing the whole idea of making fisheries sustainable is human population growth, overfishing, habitat destruction and alteration, introduction of foreign species, water quality, and global warming.
That is a big, glaring list. But here are some things that can be done in an effort to make fisheries sustainable.
First, fishery management needs to be improved. This means fishing capacity needs to be reduced to a level that the ocean can sustain. It also means reducing fishing pressure so that depleted fish populations can recuperate.
Furthermore, fisheries policy needs to be strengthened, i.e. governments need to act in a concerted manner to advocate conservative fishing policies. Illegal fishing must be dealt with a strict had. And, fairer fisheries partnership agreements need to be established.
Another step in the effort to make fisheries sustainable is to reduce the impacts of fishing altogether. This means promoting the use of selective fishing gear that does not destroy the environment, eliminate completely destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling and integrating conservation into fisheries management.
Most importantly, sustainably caught seafood needs to be promoted. Consumers need to know the facts. Seafood needs to be labeled or Eco-labeled. Standards need to be kept, the world needs to be in the know. In this way we can save the world's fish and make fisheries sustainable again.
Interested in learning more about fishing in Alaska? You'll find great bios of some of the state's most famous fishermen at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.
Some of the key issues facing the whole idea of making fisheries sustainable is human population growth, overfishing, habitat destruction and alteration, introduction of foreign species, water quality, and global warming.
That is a big, glaring list. But here are some things that can be done in an effort to make fisheries sustainable.
First, fishery management needs to be improved. This means fishing capacity needs to be reduced to a level that the ocean can sustain. It also means reducing fishing pressure so that depleted fish populations can recuperate.
Furthermore, fisheries policy needs to be strengthened, i.e. governments need to act in a concerted manner to advocate conservative fishing policies. Illegal fishing must be dealt with a strict had. And, fairer fisheries partnership agreements need to be established.
Another step in the effort to make fisheries sustainable is to reduce the impacts of fishing altogether. This means promoting the use of selective fishing gear that does not destroy the environment, eliminate completely destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling and integrating conservation into fisheries management.
Most importantly, sustainably caught seafood needs to be promoted. Consumers need to know the facts. Seafood needs to be labeled or Eco-labeled. Standards need to be kept, the world needs to be in the know. In this way we can save the world's fish and make fisheries sustainable again.
Interested in learning more about fishing in Alaska? You'll find great bios of some of the state's most famous fishermen at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.
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