IUCN report identifies challenges, opportunities for managing fisheries

A new report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature finds that the large numbers of fishing boats engaged in widespread trawling that can ensnare protected species and large numbers of juvenile fish continue to have a negative impact on the world’s fisheries, and that steps need to be taken to address excess fishing capacity, improve data collection, increase enforcement, better regulate aquaculture, and find livelihood alternatives for some existing fishers.

The new report, a Situation Analysis titled Unselective, unsustainable, and unmonitored trawl fisheries? Situation analysis with case studies from Southeast and East Asia, explores what are known as unselective, unsustainable, and unmonitored (UUU) fisheries, using case studies from China, Thailand, and Viet Nam to assess the challenges and opportunities that could serve as examples for others in managing fishing operations – a step that is critical to maintaining marine biodiversity. The outcomes from the case studies are applicable globally in similar fisheries.

“The management of world fisheries plays a crucial role when it comes to the conservation of nature and biodiversity, which is critical in ensuring the well-being and survival of people. Its importance cannot be overstated.  While progress in this area has been encouraging, much remains to be done,” said IUCN Director General Dr Grethel Aguilar. “Reducing the capture of unwanted or conservation-dependent species is critical, as are innovations in fishing gear design – but those alone are not enough. Controlling the overall volume of fish caught is vital for sustainable use and ensuring fair distribution to fishing groups, not to mention protecting biodiversity. The sustainable and effective management of fisheries can make a significant impact, and this report will serve as an important guide.”

According to the report, trawling – the use of large nets pulled behind boats – accounts for 40% of global fisheries production, and when poorly managed can negatively impact marine ecosystems. The three countries that are highlighted in the report, combined, account for 20% of global marine fisheries. Poor sustainability outcomes can be seen in the form of declining fish stocks and decreases in species of conservation concern, and in possibly irreversible changes to ecosystems.

While there has been some progress in fisheries management over the last two decades – the report highlights Thailand for some positive steps – the overall state of global fisheries remains critical. One-third of all fisheries are being exploited at unsustainable levels, and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species shows that over 1,000 exploited marine species – including sharks, rays, groupers, seahorses, abalone, and corals – are primarily impacted by fishing activities. But it’s not just individual species at risk, but rather entire aquatic ecosystems.

“Fisheries management depends on understanding exploited species and managing their exploitation. UUU fisheries are an impediment to progress towards sustainability and effective resource and ecosystem stewardship. The Situation Analysis explores these issues in detail, providing a foundation for addressing UUU fishing globally,” said Jon Paul Rodríguez, Chair of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission, a network of over 10,000 volunteer experts. “The current state of many of our fisheries, and condition of marine ecosystems, demands urgent, informed action. This Situation Analysis, grounded in SSC expertise, guides these efforts.”

The report has several key messages on steps that governments should take to better manage fisheries including:

Address excess fishing capacity.

Improve data collection.

Changes to laws and policies to ensure they are practical, effective, and holistic.

Increase enforcement capacity and adequate monitoring and surveillance activities.

Prioritisation of fishery beneficiaries in terms of sector (small or large) and use (direct food, animal feed, seafood processing).

Attention to high juvenile fish catch rates and endangered, threatened, and protected species.

Development of formal management plans for the fisheries.

The report also calls for changes in aquaculture, particularly in the practice of raising carnivorous species in a controlled environment. Currently, much of the feed in such operations comes from wild-caught fish.

“The heavy and extensive use of wild-caught fishes and invertebrates, much of it taken by trawls, needs to be substantially reduced as a feed source in certain types of aquaculture in favour of alternative feeds that do not rely on wild-capture. Until that happens, the heavy use of trawl catch as feed in some countries contributes to UUU and threatens marine ecosystems,” said Yvonne Sadovy, a biologist and expert in fisheries who is a co-author of the report.

The report provides a nuanced understanding of marine conservation and fisheries management interactions, highlighting constraints and opportunities for change.