‘The seas are becoming deserts’ – Experts warn of a collapse in fisheries

The world faces a “global crisis” in marine fisheries as a result of overfishing, a group of 26 acclaimed scientists and academics warned this week.

The experts claim in a joint study - ‘From Hook to Plate: the State of Marine Fisheries’ – that plummeting fish stocks are leading to wide-ranging and damaging consequences for marine habitats and vulnerable communities, requiring urgent and concerted government action.

“People are increasingly concerned that the seas are becoming deserts - no longer able to produce the wealth of fish and other products that we all value so much,” Mark Collins, co-author and Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, told High Commissioners, industry experts and media at the launch at Marlborough House, London, UK, on 28 September 2009.

“Marine fish capture is reducing on a global scale despite ever-increasing fishing effort, and there are well-founded fears of a fisheries collapse,” he said. “Governments and experts know this and are acting to address the problem, but not quickly enough and not in the concerted way required for success.”

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, damaging fishing methods and wastage, combined with government subsidies, are severely damaging fish stocks in Commonwealth countries, the 244-page study, published by the Foundation and Commonwealth Secretariat, reveals.

The destruction of ecological support systems and climate change as well as a failure to protect areas for breeding only add to the long-term damage to the oceans, according to the authors.

The study reveals that those least responsible for the state of the oceans are most likely to suffer the consequences of poor management and climate change. Small island states in particular are vulnerable to illegal and unfair fishing by foreign fleets and to migration of fish away from warming seas.

“Falling national revenues from fisheries will threaten the economic security of a number of Commonwealth countries, with consequences in terms of migration patterns, and national and international security,” added Dr Collins.

The authors call for a Commonwealth ministerial task force to strengthen the monitoring of exclusive economic zones and reduce depletion, a conference on fishery matters and an annual assessment of Commonwealth fish stocks and small-scale fisheries. They also call for lower catch quotas, rights based community management, restocking and the replacement of incentives for overfishing, as well as initiatives to help vulnerable communities.

“Much can be achieved by ending perverse [government] subsidies,” explained Dr Collins, “using wealth-producing, ecosystem-based management of fishing systems linked to conservation of the oceans, and making much greater use of rights based approaches to fishing management that have the potential both to sustain local communities and supply the wider Commonwealth.”

Co-author Richard Bourne, speaking at a separate debate last week organised by the Foundation and Commonwealth Journalists Association, said: “We are hoping that Commonwealth leaders will really endorse the work here. We want to see the ministerial task force. We want to see more effort to support the crackdown in IUU fishing.”

“We want more support for the marine protected areas, and the in-shore areas,” Mr Bourne, an Associate Fellow of the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, added.

The Foundation-CJA debate on 24 September featured a panel comprising Dr Collins, CJA UK chair Rita Payne, Head of Marine Strategy and Evidence for the UK Government Darius Campbell, UK restaurateur Caroline Bennett, and campaigning group Sea Shepherd.

The study forms part of the Commonwealth Fisheries Programme - a two-year programme focused on improving the livelihoods of coastal communities in developing countries. Delivered by a consortium of Commonwealth organisations - the Foundation, Commonwealth Human Ecology Council and Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit - it raises awareness, builds capacity and conducts research to help identify long-term solutions for fisheries management.

The key findings and recommendations will be presented at this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.

Key Links:

• Environmentally Sustainable Development

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• Commonwealth Foundation
• Commonwealth Fisheries
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