Question

You are the biological advisor to the CEO of a major US fishing fleet. Prepare a document to be sent to the CEO describing guidelines that are imperative to maintain sustainable fisheries. Make sure to address specific fish species that are currently at risk today.

Answer 1

Regarding the fishing sector, urgent progress is required, progress towards more environmentally and economically sustainable models. Our environmental organization points out, through its field research, that it requires a high investment in the next few years in artisanal and sustainable fisheries, to the detriment of the industrial one, which would result in an increase in production and the creation of net jobs for the country. Even tons of CO2 would be avoided in the atmosphere in 20 future years.
The sustainable fishery has three dimensions: organic, social and economic. When considering the organic sustainability of a fishing operation, it is related to the fact that both the stocks of the economically important species and the other components of the ecosystem are protected. In addition to this, seafood products, especially healthy and high quality, are guaranteed a future by ensuring that they will not be affected by harmful environmental influences or by harmful processing methods. The sustainability of a fishing activity in the social sense means that its workers comply with fair working conditions and that the living conditions of other members of the community are not going to be affected. The sustainability of a fishing activity, in the economic sense, means that the way in which its products are marketed guarantees stable relationships throughout and among all the members of the value chain, in a spirit of mutual responsibility.
There are detractors of our progress, focused on the claim that the elimination of industrial fishing would mean a great loss in economic terms and jobs, however, we are sure that compensation would be generated because there would be a transfer of workers to fishing artisanal and other jobs in the sector.
To know the effect on the economy and the environment if a 100% sustainable fishing model were adopted, we propose to evaluate the statistics and formulate studies on the sector with trends and particular case studies. To reach this ideal scenario, our environmental NGO is aware that it is necessary to strictly apply the Fisheries Policy Regulations and additionally adopt a series of measures that would require investment from the Government and the private sector.
Among them we propose:

1. Compliance with optimal biological standards. To fish what there is when there is, avoiding the overexploitation and the consequent extinction of species in certain areas. It must be mandatory, that the scientific recommendations be respected, both in the distribution of access to fishing resources and in the subsequent control of catches in ports. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the human and technical resources to carry out the relevant research on annual variations in some species.

2. Support for artisanal and sustainable fisheries. Artisanal fishing is characterized by its environmental and social sustainability. That, not counting the shellfish on foot or by boat. The actions would happen because the fishermen who practice the so-called minor arts (selective techniques with little impact on the marine environment), have exclusive access to resources within a certain territorial extension at sea, as well as the creation of special labeling for the fish obtained in a sustainable manner.

3. Expansion of the Marine Reserves network. Increase the protected area as Marine Reserves, where aggressive extractive activities such as fishing are prohibited. This would allow carrying out training, research and tourism activities compatible with the levels of protection of the reserves.

4. Progressive elimination of destructive arts. Our NGO maintains an open battle against trawling, which represents an important percentage, due to its impact on our country. The nets of the boats that practice this method, which collect everything from the bottom to the surface, trap all the species that are in their way "which generates a large amount of discards of fish and other species that return to the sea dead or dying. " The passage of the network, due to its weight and that of the doors that keep them open, destroys the seabed, therefore the disappearance of the trawling fleet could be transformed, and 30% could be reconverted and practice other fishing methods more selective.

5. Conversion of deep-sea fishing into sustainable. Fleets that practice deep and high-altitude fishing should do so far from the coasts and with an important impact that does not affect the resources and ecosystems of other countries. Therefore, the limitation of vessels that practice this type of fishing is proposed, as well as the prohibition of fish imports without information on the origin or certification of legality.

6. Limitation of aquaculture farms. Contrary to what some people think, aquaculture is not the solution to overexploitation of the oceans or to hunger in the world. " To feed the breeding or fattening species, mainly wild fish is used, sometimes in larger quantities than those to be obtained. For the captive breeding of fish for consumption is also necessary, the occupation of coastal areas where the facilities are built.

7. Control of pollution of the coast. At this point we assume that more resources should be allocated. What we consider is vital for the health of the coastal ecosystems, Bes for that reason, that with the fulfillment of the regulations in force on the treatment of residual waters, advance them substantially.

8. Inform and educate consumers. At this point in partcualar, for greater sensitivity of buyers when choosing sustainable fish for the benefits to the economy and the environment, advertising and labeling would be key. However, labeling with data such as the origin of the fish and the day of capture, whether it is canned or fresh fish, is a measure that is simple in theory but in practice can get obstacles with large, on the part of the Detractors EY this is due to the way of working of large ships that spend weeks on the high seas. And if when selling the fish you have to indicate the date of capture, it may have been days, or even weeks, which makes them less competitive compared to the artisanal fishery, which sells the fish the same day it was taken from the sea . However, everything is a process of reeducation and will.

"If the ecosystem continues to be destroyed, the waters will not be able to provide habitat for the fish, but they will not be useful at all either"