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Fisheries: hope or despair?
Tony J Pitcher1, William W L Cheung
1Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Marine Pollution Bulletin
|July 6, 2013
Summary
Global fisheries depletions remain severe, contrary to optimistic reports. Urgent, innovative, and global actions are needed to address alarming trends in marine ecosystems and seafood security.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Fisheries Science
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Recent analyses suggesting recovery in global fisheries are based on limited, well-managed fisheries.
- The majority of global fisheries show continued depletions and declining catch per effort.
- Indicators like trophic level and catch time series present controversial but concerning trends.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the current status of global fisheries.
- To assess the validity of claims regarding fisheries recovery.
- To highlight the broader threats to marine ecosystems and seafood security.
Main Methods:
- Review and analysis of fisheries status indicators, including stock assessments and catch data.
- Examination of data from both developed and developing world fisheries.
- Consideration of ecosystem-level effects and environmental changes.
Main Results:
- Improvements are noted only in a minority of formally assessed fisheries.
- Deeper analyses confirm widespread, serious depletions and poor management quality.
- Catch per effort continues to decline globally, indicating persistent overfishing.
Conclusions:
- The optimistic view of fisheries recovery is not supported by comprehensive global data.
- Stock assessment methods may need to evolve to account for ecosystem dynamics and environmental shifts.
- Urgent, global, and innovative strategies are essential to mitigate species extinction, food web degradation, and threats from climate change and pollution.
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