Overfishing jeopardizes global food security

Overfishing jeopardizes global food security

Gland, Switzerland - An ever-growing dependence on fish means governments must understand that the current fisheries crisis is an issue of fundamental humanitarian importance. Strong management measures to achieve sustainable fisheries and eradicating unfair competition caused by illegal fishing or unfair exploitation contracts must be a priority on the policy agenda, WWF International reiterated today.

The global environment organisation’s message comes after the release of the latest State of the World’s Fisheries and Aquaculture report (SOFIA 2012) issued today in Rome by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

SOFIA 2012 estimates that in 2009, 57 per cent of marine fisheries are fully exploited, while 30 per cent of all assessed marine stocks are over-exploited. The report shows that fisheries- related employment supports the livelihoods of 10-12 per cent of the world’s population (660-820 million people), with 4.3 billion people depending on fish to provide about 15 per cent of their animal derived protein.

“With such dependency on fish meeting a rapidly growing population, we simply cannot sustain a situation where 87 per cent of global marine fisheries are at or above full exploitation” said Alfred Schumm, Leader of WWF’s global Smart Fishing Initiative. “Using the precautionary approach, a holistic suite of ecosystem- and science based measures must be adopted if we are to realise the clear economic, environmental and social benefits of sustainably managed fisheries” added Schumm.

Importantly, SOFIA 2012 also recognizes that controlling illegal, unreported and unregulated vessels is a burden gradually falling on coastal states, port states, regional fisheries bodies, and others entities.

“Nobody wants the efforts of the good players to be undermined by an ugly underbelly of illegal fishing. We urge countries to push for the ratification and implementation of essential tools to manage this, such as the Port State Measures Agreement and the Global Record of Fishing Vessels as well as we urge fisheries to implement satellite AIS and electronic observer tools on every fishing- and carrier-vessel” said Mr Schumm.

A key challenge in moving fisheries to a sustainable path is finding solutions that are socially, economically and politically viable.

“The current fisheries crisis should be seen as an opportunity for change. As our fish stocks decrease at the same time as demand increases, it is vital we find innovative solutions that work for both people and nature” said Dr. Robin Davies, Deputy Leader of WWF’s Smart Fishing Initiative.

WWF is currently aiming to realize the future economic value of recovered and sustainably managed fish stocks via the establishment a Financial Institution for the Recovery of Marine Ecosystems (FIRME) which employs an investment model that finances conservation without adversely impacting livelihoods. According to the international conservation organization, FIRME could be one way to do this.

Link to “State of the World’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Report” (Sofia 2012) http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/i2727e/i2727e00.htm
Link to WWF Factsheet on FIRME http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/fact_sheet_the_firme.pdf

About WWF

WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with more than 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
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