What is Sustainable Fishing & why is it so important
Rod and Reel fishing
There are ways to fish sustainably, allowing us to enjoy seafood while ensuring that populations remain for the future.
In many indigenous cultures, people have fished sustainably for thousands of years. Today’s sustainable fishing practices reflect some lessons learned from these cultures. Rod-and-reel fishing is a modern version of traditional hook-and-line. Rod-and-reel fishing results in less bycatch because non-targeted species can be released immediately. Additionally, only one fish is caught at a time, preventing overfishing. For commercial fishers, rod and reel fishing is a more sustainable alternative to long lining.
Consider the example of the bluefin tuna. This fish is one of the largest and fastest on Earth. It is known for its delicious meat, which is often enjoyed raw, as sushi. Demand for this particular fish has resulted in very high prices at markets and has threatened its population. Today’s spawning population of bluefin tuna is estimated at 21 to 29 percent of its population in 1970.
Since about that time, commercial fishers have caught bluefin tuna using purse seining and long-lining. Purse seine fishing uses a net to herd fish together and then envelop them by pulling the net’s drawstring. The net can scoop up many fish at a time, and is typically used to catch schooling fish or those that come together to spawn. Long-lining is a type of fishing in which a very long line—up to 100 kilometers (62 miles)—is set and dragged behind a boat. These lines have thousands of baited hooks attached to smaller lines stretching downward.Both purse seining and long-lining are efficient fishing methods. These techniques can catch hundreds or thousands of fish at a time. Catching so many fish at a time can result in an immediate payoff for fishers. Fishing this way consistently, however, leaves few fish of a species left in the ocean. If a fish population is small, it cannot easily replenish itself through reproduction.
Purse seine fishing
long-lining
Taking wildlife from the sea faster than populations can reproduce is known as overfishing. Purse seining, longlining, and many other types of fishing can also result in a lot of bycatch, the capture of unintended species. Longlines intended to catch bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), for instance, can ensnare birds, sea turtles, and other fish such as swordfish (Xiphias gladius).
While particular species of fish can be targeted by area, gillnets do carry the risk of bycatch (accidental capture of unwanted species) and interaction with other marine animals.
In order to be MSC certified, gillnet fisheries are often required to make improvements, which include increased monitoring and independent observer coverage. Gear modifications have also been made and some fisheries use ‘pingers’: acoustic alarms attached to nets which deter marine mammals.
As consumers, we can choose seafood from well-managed, sustainable fisheries. To do so, we should educate ourselves about where our fish comes from and how it is caught. Resources such as the Seafood Decision Guide can help us make the best choices for our ocean’s future.
Many of the fish we enjoy are in trouble due to destructive fishing and farming practices. You can make a difference for our ocean by making responsible seafood choices. These guides can show you how. Click Here
The remaining struggle is that policymakers must consider the needs of consumers, the livelihoods of fishers, and the data of scientists as they look ahead.
Helpful Tools to learn more
making the best seafood choices for you and your family can be daunting. Is it sustainable? What about mercury? Which seafood has the most omega-3s? We’ve pulled together a brief overview of these key issues and compiled some of the best resources to help you make a decision that’s healthy, sustainable—and delicious.
Many of the fish we enjoy are in trouble due to destructive fishing and farming practices. You can make a difference for our ocean by making responsible seafood choices, these guides can show you how.
Your seafood has a story to tell. From small family-run shrimp farms in Vietnam to large tuna fishing fleets off the Atlantic coast, every seafood product has a story to tell. Knowing the details of how and where your seafood is harvested is key to protecting our ocean and ensuring a long-term supply of seafood.