On average, fish populations have been found to be in a better state than they were two decades ago, although it can vary depending on each species. The lead author, Ray Hilborn, a professor in the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, has been compiling and analysing data from fisheries around the world for ten years and the results have just been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Interestingly, the study also provides “a brief history of commercial fishing and fishery science”. The turning point came in the 1990s, when governments were put under pressure to start taking action to protect their fish stocks from collapsing. This resulted in regulations being revised and improved both in the U.S. (1996) and the EU (2002). Consequently, fishing pressure decreased and abundance recovered, proving that fishery science and management works: if a fishery is assessed, proper decisions can be made on how to sustainably manage it.
This report reinforces IFFO in believing that critical need for improvements in some regions like South East Asia and Western Africa, including the social dimensions of reduction fisheries, can be addressed and that there is room for positive changes. Outstanding problems in some fisheries are not an unavoidable law of nature. It is possible to address them provided there is a willingness to collaborate through Fishery improvement projects (FIPs) or any relevant kind of social initiatives based on fishery science.
Petter M. Johannessen
To read all articles related to the February issue, please click on the following links below:
- IFFO Members' Meeting in Miami, USA
- IFFO to trial novel anti-oxidants for fishmeal
- Key facts and figures about the industry
- Looking at the European Green Deal
- New Certification Body to be added to certify against the IFFO RS programme
- Managing stocks in fisheries: how does this work?
- Strengthening relationships with the Thailand stakeholders