To measure Fishing Pressure, the Ocean Health Index uses a composite index that includes two pressures caused by artisanal fishing.

1. Artisanal Fishing, High Bycatch

This pressure is caused by fishing with dynamite (blast fishing), which causes high bycatch because the explosion injures or kills many non-target species of fish and other animals. 

Reefs at Risk Revisited recorded the presence or absence of destructive artisanal blast and poison (cyanide) fishing in a country based on survey observations and expert opinion. Because these data are categorical, a binary system was used for scoring regions for this pressure. Where destructive artisanal fishing practices were recorded as either “moderate” or “severe,” the Ocean Health Index (OHI) categorized the value as maximum (score = 1). “Unclassified” regions were determined to have minimal threat from blast and poison fishing and were categorized as having no artisanal high bycatch fishing (score = 0).

A notable limitation of using these data as a proxy for high bycatch artisanal fishing is that they only pertain to coral reef habitats. High bycatch artisanal fishing likely exists in every coastal country, but it was not possible to determine the type or extent for each country. For all non-habitat destructive (but still potentially high bycatch) fishing, catch data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) were used.

Artisanal fishing, High Bycatch is used as a pressure in calculating scores for Food Production (Fisheries), Natural Products (Ornamental fishes), Artisanal Fishing Opportunities, Natural Products (sponges), Sense of Place (Iconic Species) and Biodiversity (Species and Habitats:corals).

2. Artisanal Fishing, Low Bycatch

This pressure is caused by fishing with cyanide, which causes bycatch because the poison injures or kills any species with which it comes in contact. However it does not physically harm habitats and is less destructive than fishing with dynamite. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports statistics on this type of catch for many, but not all, countries; the Ocean Health Index (OHI) utilized data for the 59 countries reported in 2006 and modeled the values for the remaining countries. There currently is no available information on the gear type used for this catch. When determining score, the assumption was made that little of it is done with habitat-destructive gear (e.g., blast fishing) or high bycatch gear (e.g., seine nets) but recognizing that high bycatch gear in particular is common.

Artisanal fishing, Low Bycatch is used as a pressure in calculating scores for Food Production (Fisheries), Natural Products (Ornamental fishes), and Livelihoods & Economies (Commercial Fishing and Aquarium Trade components).

ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS

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.

Although some countries utilize bycatch for food and/or fishmeal, non-target species are dead or dying if they are returned to the water.

Species other than fish, including whales, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and sea birds die as bycatch from the use of nets and longlines.

HUMAN HEALTH IMPACTS

Without the opportunity to catch their own seafood, millions of people could not meet their daily needs for protein. 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). 

ECONOMIC IMPACTS

Artisanal fishing includes 90% of all fishing jobs worldwide, approximately 45% of the world’s fisheries, and nearly a quarter of the world catch (Schorr 2005).

Comparatively, artisanal and commercial fisheries catch the same amount of fish for human consumption (30 million tons), yet artisanal fisheries employ 25 times the number of fishers (over 12 million people) and use an eighth of the amount of fuel used by industrial fisheries annually (Jaquet and Pauly 2008).

Costs associated with small-scale fishing tend to be lower than those for large-scale fisheries, as boats tend to have lower running costs and require less fuel, use less expensive technology, and harvest resources more efficiently (FAO 2012).

70% of the world’s total fish catch comes from developing countries, and over half of this comes from small-scale fisheries (WorldFish Centre 2008).

Net losses to the global economy from unsustainable exploitation of living marine resources are calculated to substantially exceed $50 billion per year- equivalent to more than half the value of the global seafood trade (World Bank 2009).

Small-scale fisheries are susceptible to risks posed by natural disasters and fuel and fish price fluctuations (Béné, 2006).

SCRIPPS Institution of Oceanography: Small-scale and Artisanal Fisheries Research Network (SAFRN)

SAFRN focuses on the global development of methodology for the study of small-scale and artisanal fisheries.

Consortium for Wildlife: Bycatch Reduction

A database of collaborative research between the fishing industry and the scientific community, which 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.

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.