Ocean experts call for new sustainable fishing standards

A group of leading ocean experts say the prevailing definition of ‘sustainable fishing’ is dangerously flawed and have set out 11 ‘golden rules’ to redefine sustainable fishing.

In a paper published in Ocean Sustainability , researchers have called on companies, governments, and legislators to implement these actions to end the ongoing destruction of our oceans caused by fishing and ensure the renewal of abundant fish populations to feed future generations.

The rules follow two guiding principles that would revolutionise the way we ‘manage’ the exploitation of the ocean:

Regenerating the ocean’s health:

1. Fish less and manage fisheries for lower impact
2. Rule out gears and fisheries that generate significant collateral damage
3. Set limits on the size of boats and gears
4. Source only from fisheries with good governance, sustainable stocks, and sufficient data to assure sustainability
5. Pro-actively incorporate ecosystem protection into fisheries management
6. Place the most vulnerable species and areas off limits

Putting humans before profits:

7. End fisheries that abuse human rights, including those that threaten food security and livelihoods of people in the places they fish
8. Create fisheries management systems that fairly and transparently distribute access and benefits
9. Apply good practices wherever fishing companies operate
10. End the flow of harmful subsidies to fisheries
11. Apply zero-tolerance to companies that engage in illegal fishing

“This initiative brought together a diverse group of experts, including those from fisheries science, social sciences, economics and conservation,” says Professor Paul Kemp from the University of Southampton, a coauthor on the paper.

“By doing so we were able to develop a roadmap to move away from the traditional view of fisheries that tends to focus on the social and economic context of those who utilise them.

“Sustainability, however, requires the integration of the social, economic and environmental domains. This paper provides a manifesto that will help secure our fisheries for sustainable exploitation by future generations.”

Today, fishing is globally recognised as the leading cause of ocean destruction and in fifty years, global fish populations have declined by a third.

The researchers say that despite their widespread acceptance by companies and consumers, current standards of ‘sustainability’ fail to address the global biodiversity and climate breakdown, and instead support high-capital industrial practices which benefit the Global North, whilst harming ecosystems and public finances, jeopardising artisanal fishing and food security, and threatening jobs.

“The current concept of ‘sustainable fishing’, adopted by governments and private actors since the post-war period is scientifically obsolete,” says the lead author of the paper Professor Callum Roberts from the University of Exeter.

“It relies on a simplistic, productivist theory which assumes that as long as global catch volumes remain below a set limit, anyone can fish just about anything, anywhere, with any method.”

The new framework envisions a world where fishing ensures abundant fish stocks for humanity’s long-term needs. This innovative approach recognises the social, ethical, and ecological roles of fishing, proposing a systemic sustainable model enacted by market players, policymakers, and the legal system.

“We must view fishing as a privilege rather than a right,” adds Prof Roberts. “Marine life is a public good that should both benefit society and nature, not be the object of a resource race driven by private gains.”

The researchers urge policymakers, retailers, and fishery managers to acknowledge the failings of current fishing practices and prioritise the adoption of the proposed golden rules.

They say supermarkets, responsible for nearly two-thirds of European seafood sales, have a pivotal role to play in this transition, as they can influence fishing practices through their sourcing policies, scrutinise ‘sustainability’ labels, and address consumers’ growing concerns about the hidden impacts of their food.

“We are witnessing a growing disconnect between the widespread availability of supposedly sustainable fish products, the collapse of ocean ecosystems and the frequency of reported human rights abuses. Supermarkets must stop misleading consumers” warned Pauline Bricault, BLOOM’s markets campaign lead, which helped to coordinate the paper.

“Both the IPCC and IPBES have set 2030 as a deadline for critical changes. Industry stakeholders have no more excuses, they must act now.”

Rethinking sustainability of marine fisheries for a fast-changing planet is published in npj Ocean Sustainability and is available online.