Close the high seas to fishing?

Area of Science:

• Marine resource management
• Fisheries science
• Bioeconomics

Background:

• Oceans are divided into exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and the high seas (HS) commons, leading to overexploitation of migratory fish stocks due to competition and open access.
• Current management systems result in significant underutilization of the economic potential of valuable fisheries like tuna, billfish, and shark.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the bioeconomic effects of completely closing the high seas (HS) to fishing.
• To evaluate the potential for improved stock conservation and increased fisheries profits and yields.

Main Methods:

• A spatial bioeconomic model was employed to simulate the impacts of a complete HS fishing closure.
• The model assessed changes in fisheries profit, yield, and fish stock conservation levels.

Main Results:

• Complete closure of the HS to fishing is projected to increase fisheries profits by over 100% and yields by over 30%.
• Fish stock conservation is expected to improve by more than 150% under this policy.
• HS closure induces international cooperation and establishes effective refuges for migratory species.

Conclusions:

• Closing the high seas to fishing offers a viable strategy for enhancing global fisheries profitability and sustainability.
• This policy promotes cooperation and provides essential refuges, leading to superior conservation and economic outcomes compared to open-access HS.