Commercial Fishing Pressure
Commercial
fishing pressure is an indicator of how the large-scale harvesting of
free-ranging fish from coastal waters and high seas can impact the success of
future catches of wild fish. This includes catch and bycatch (both high and
low) of fish, other seafood and marine wildlife.
While global fishery resources supply humans with a significant portion of their protein needs, they may also inflict pressure on the environment through overfishing, the catch of unintended species, and the use of destructive or unregulated fishing methods that can result in high levels of bycatch, i.e. the catch of unintended species or undersized/underaged specimens of a target species.
While global fishery resources supply humans with a significant portion of their protein needs, they may also inflict pressure on the environment through overfishing, the catch of unintended species, and the use of destructive or unregulated fishing methods that can result in high levels of bycatch, i.e. the catch of unintended species or undersized/underaged specimens of a target species.
Commercial Fishing Practices Result in Varying Levels of Bycatch
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Which Goals Does This Affect?
How Was It Measured?
Commercial
Fishing, High Bycatch
Modeled demersal and pelagic high bycatch fishing pressure.
This Pressure represents fish caught using high bycatch gear, which includes demersal destructive (e.g. trawl), demersal non-destructive (e.g. pots, traps) and pelagic (e.g. long-lines) gear. The species-gear associations are from Watson et al. Catch data are from 2006 and were spatialized by the Sea Around Us Project into ½ degree cell resolution. These values were then summed into EEZ reporting units; when cells spanned EEZ borders, catch was divided proportionally based upon amount of area in each EEZ.
Commercial Fishing, Low Bycatch
Modeled demersal and pelagic low bycatch fishing pressure.
This Pressure represents fish caught using low bycatch gear, which includes demersal non-destructive (e.g. hook and line) and pelagic (e.g. purse seines) gear. The species-gear associations are from Watson et al. Catch data are from 2006 and were spatialized by the Sea Around Us Project into ½ degree cell resolution. These values were then summed into EEZ reporting units; when cells spanned EEZ borders, catch was divided proportionally based upon amount of area in each EEZ.
Full details for this data layer are provided in Halpern et al. (2008).
Modeled demersal and pelagic high bycatch fishing pressure.
This Pressure represents fish caught using high bycatch gear, which includes demersal destructive (e.g. trawl), demersal non-destructive (e.g. pots, traps) and pelagic (e.g. long-lines) gear. The species-gear associations are from Watson et al. Catch data are from 2006 and were spatialized by the Sea Around Us Project into ½ degree cell resolution. These values were then summed into EEZ reporting units; when cells spanned EEZ borders, catch was divided proportionally based upon amount of area in each EEZ.
Commercial Fishing, Low Bycatch
Modeled demersal and pelagic low bycatch fishing pressure.
This Pressure represents fish caught using low bycatch gear, which includes demersal non-destructive (e.g. hook and line) and pelagic (e.g. purse seines) gear. The species-gear associations are from Watson et al. Catch data are from 2006 and were spatialized by the Sea Around Us Project into ½ degree cell resolution. These values were then summed into EEZ reporting units; when cells spanned EEZ borders, catch was divided proportionally based upon amount of area in each EEZ.
Full details for this data layer are provided in Halpern et al. (2008).
What Are The Impacts?
ECOLOGICAL IMPACT
Increasingly
intense large-scale fishing has spread throughout the ocean. Fishing pressure
and destructive fishing techniques have led to the depletion, or even collapse,
of major fish stocks.
Though declining exploitation rates have contributed to the rebuilding of some depleted stocks, on average, fish stocks are still well below maximum sustainable yield (maintaining the population size at the point of maximum growth rate) in most regions (Worm et al. 2009).
Overfishing can affect the population size of threatened or endangered species as well as the potential future catch of targeted fish stocks.
At least 32% of assessed commercial species are overexploited or depleted and a further 53% are already exploited to their maximum capacity (FAO 2010).
Unsustainable fishing pressure alters marine ecosystem structure and can have a significant impact upon biodiversity, productivity, and overall food web dynamics.
Destructive fishing practices result in bycatch, which is the catch of unintended species or undersized/underaged specimens of the target species. Bycatch of non-target species can harm the ecological structure of an ecosystem, affecting existing populations as well as potential future catch. Species other than fish, including whales, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and sea birds die as bycatch from the use of nets and longlines (Davies et al. 2009).
Although some countries utilize bycatch for food and/or fishmeal, non-target species are usually returned to the water when they are dying or already dead.
Though declining exploitation rates have contributed to the rebuilding of some depleted stocks, on average, fish stocks are still well below maximum sustainable yield (maintaining the population size at the point of maximum growth rate) in most regions (Worm et al. 2009).
Overfishing can affect the population size of threatened or endangered species as well as the potential future catch of targeted fish stocks.
At least 32% of assessed commercial species are overexploited or depleted and a further 53% are already exploited to their maximum capacity (FAO 2010).
Unsustainable fishing pressure alters marine ecosystem structure and can have a significant impact upon biodiversity, productivity, and overall food web dynamics.
Destructive fishing practices result in bycatch, which is the catch of unintended species or undersized/underaged specimens of the target species. Bycatch of non-target species can harm the ecological structure of an ecosystem, affecting existing populations as well as potential future catch. Species other than fish, including whales, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and sea birds die as bycatch from the use of nets and longlines (Davies et al. 2009).
Although some countries utilize bycatch for food and/or fishmeal, non-target species are usually returned to the water when they are dying or already dead.
HUMAN HEALTH IMPACT
Oceans
provide food for billions of people worldwide. Fish are highly nutritious, rich
in essential minerals, micronutrients, essential fatty acids and proteins.
Fish provide more than 3 billion people, particularly in low-income, food deficient countries, with 15 percent of their average per capita intake of animal protein (FAO 2010).
If overfishing did not exist, global fisheries could have prevented malnourishment for nearly 20 million people and total catch in the waters of low-income, food deficit, nations might have been up to 17% greater than the tonnage actually landed there (Srinivasan et al. 2010).
The global demand for seafood continues to rise, while 40% of fisheries are actually decreasing in production and overfishing remains a major threat to seafood availability (Peterson and Fronc 2007).
Fish provide more than 3 billion people, particularly in low-income, food deficient countries, with 15 percent of their average per capita intake of animal protein (FAO 2010).
If overfishing did not exist, global fisheries could have prevented malnourishment for nearly 20 million people and total catch in the waters of low-income, food deficit, nations might have been up to 17% greater than the tonnage actually landed there (Srinivasan et al. 2010).
The global demand for seafood continues to rise, while 40% of fisheries are actually decreasing in production and overfishing remains a major threat to seafood availability (Peterson and Fronc 2007).
ECONOMIC IMPACT
While there are tremendous economic and social
benefits from fishing, overfishing can have significant adverse socioeconomic
effects. The depletion of global fish stocks constitutes a loss of global
natural capital and when fish stocks are fully exploited physically, associated
fisheries are almost invariably performing below their economic optimum (World
Bank 2008).
Net losses to the global economy from unsustainable exploitation of living marine resources are calculated to substantially exceed US $50 billion per year- equivalent to more than half the value of the global seafood trade (World Bank 2009).
Fisheries and aquaculture (both marine and freshwater) together employ about 44.9 million people worldwide. Each of these jobs produces approximately three secondary jobs, leading to a total of approximately 180 million people employed in the sector.
On average, each job holder supports three dependents or family members, so the livelihoods of about 540 million people worldwide--8 percent of the world population in 2008—were dependent on fisheries and aquaculture (FAO 2010).
Wild fisheries contributed between US $ 225-240 billion to the global economy in 2003 (Dyck and Sumaila 2010).
Net losses to the global economy from unsustainable exploitation of living marine resources are calculated to substantially exceed US $50 billion per year- equivalent to more than half the value of the global seafood trade (World Bank 2009).
Fisheries and aquaculture (both marine and freshwater) together employ about 44.9 million people worldwide. Each of these jobs produces approximately three secondary jobs, leading to a total of approximately 180 million people employed in the sector.
On average, each job holder supports three dependents or family members, so the livelihoods of about 540 million people worldwide--8 percent of the world population in 2008—were dependent on fisheries and aquaculture (FAO 2010).
Wild fisheries contributed between US $ 225-240 billion to the global economy in 2003 (Dyck and Sumaila 2010).
What Has Been Done?
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Revives Stocks in the North Atlantic, U.S.A.
Valuable
stocks of haddock, scallops, pollock, and swordfish in the U.S. North Atlantic
that previously suffered from decades of overfishing have now been brought back
to relatively healthy levels. They are part of 21 stocks that have been rebuilt
nationwide in the United States since 2000, using standards set by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service and
Regional Fishery Management Councils according to requirements set by the
U.S. Magnuson-Stevens Act.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]
Quota Management System meets Economic Goals while Ensuring Sustainability in New Zealand
New
Zealand was the first country to comprehensively implement catch shares for
their commercial fisheries, creating what is now called the Quota Management
System (QMS). The QMS was created to increase the economic and export value and
profitability of fisheries, while ensuring sustainability. Currently,
approximately 100 species are included in the program and many once-depleted stocks
have been rebuilt, with nearly 70% of the catch share stocks at or near target
levels.
Bonzon et al. 2010
Get More Information
Consortium for Wildlife: Bycatch Reduction
A
database of collaborative research between the fishing industry and the
scientific community that aims to reduce bycatch for endangered species.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Smart Gear Competition
Created in partnership
with industry leaders, scientists, and fishers, the competition encourages
fishers to reduce the incidental catch of non-target species in fishing gear.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Cetacean Bycatch Resource Center
The Center’s goal is to provide information regarding bycatch mitigation
techniques among scientists, fishers, conservationists and government officials
in order to reduce bycatch on a global scale.
National Geographic Original Source: Sea Around Us Project, University of British Columbia
Interactive
map depicting the top twenty countries worldwide for ‘catch’ and ‘consumption’
statistics (million metric tons of fish).
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP)
FishSource is a global
fisheries online database created for seafood buyers and contributors.
The World Bank: Global Program on Fisheries (PROFISH)
A programming
and funding partnership between key fishery sector donors, international
financial institutions, developing countries, stakeholder organizations and
international agencies.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
An
index of fisheries’ global information networks.
FishBase: A Global Information System on Fishes
Developed
at the WorldFish Center in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other partners, this database
provides detailed information on almost all of the known world fish species and
aquatic living organisms (marine and freshwater) and is searchable by country
and species.
Sea Around Us Project: Fisheries, Ecosystems & Biodiversity
A
scientific collaboration between the University of British Columbia and the Pew
Environment Group, the site includes publications, data, and analyses;
spatialized catch data can be extracted for any region of interest.
Fisheries Management Science Programme (FMSP): Marine Resources Assessment Group (MRAG) Title
A list of links to useful
fisheries and development-related websites.
WorldFish Center
An international
publication database dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger by improving
fisheries and aquaculture.
References
Dulvy, N. K., Sadovy, Y. & Reynolds, J. D. Extinction vulnerability in marine populations. Fish and Fisheries 4, 25–64 (2003).
Laurenti, G.
(2007). Fish and fishery products: World apparent consumption statistics based
on food balance sheets. FAO Fisheries Circular 821, rev. 9. Rome, Italy: FAO.
429 pp.
Ling, S. D., Johnson, C. R., Frusher, S. D. & Ridgway, K. R. Overfishing reduces resilience of kelp beds to climate-driven catastrophic phase shift. PNAS (2009).doi:10.1073/pnas.0907529106
Lock, K. & Leslie, S. New Zealand’s Quota Management System: A History of the First 20 Years. (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research: 2007)
Committee on Ecosystem Effects of Fishing: Phase II - Assessments of the Extent of Change and the Implications for Policy, National Research Council Dynamic Changes in Marine Ecosystems: Fishing, Food Webs, and Future Options. (The National Academies Press: Washington, D.C., 2006).
Peterson, Christopher H. & Fronc, Karl. Fishing for consumers: market-driven factors affecting the sustainability of the fish and seafood supply chain. Globalization: Effects on Fisheries Resources 545 (2007).
Swartz, W., Sala, E., Tracey, S., Watson, R. & Pauly, D. The Spatial Expansion and Ecological Footprint of Fisheries (1950 to Present). PLoS ONE 5, e15143 (2010).
Watson, R., Revenga, C. & Kura, Y. Fishing gear associated with global marine catches: II. Trends in trawling and dredging. Fisheries Research 79, 103–111 (2006).
Arnason, R., Kelleher, K. & Willmann, R. The Sunken Billions The econoic justification for fisheries reform. (The World Bank: Washington D.C., 2009).
PHOTO(S): © Keith A. Ellenbogen