NEW RESEARCH SHOWS FISH STOCKS FARE BETTER WHEN TARGETED BY SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES

Research comparing fish stocks targeted by Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) certified fisheries and those without MSC certification was published this month.

The analysis, which is said to be the most comprehensive of its kind to date, found that fish stocks targeted by fisheries certified to the MSC’s global standard for sustainable fishing are more consistently fished within sustainable limits. 

They were also found to have greater abundance relative to sustainable harvest targets compared to stocks fished by non MSC-certified fisheries. The research verifies the MSC’s claim that seafood products carrying the blue tick come from fisheries that are well-managed with stocks that are not overfished. 

In the study, researchers covered a wide range of species including tuna, small pelagics and whitefish and the geographic areas of East and West Coast Canada, Japan, Pacific Ocean, Southern Africa, East Coast USA and the Atlantic Ocean.

As overfishing continues to rise, with more than a third (35%) of the world’s fish stocks overfished, the results also show that well-managed fisheries are critical to addressing this challenge. Fisheries which are managed sustainably are also more productive in the long-term, ensuring a vital source of protein-rich food for the planet’s growing population.  

MSC’s chief science and standards officer Dr Rohan Currey commented: “Accelerating progress to tackle the challenge of overfishing remains an urgent priority globally. We know how to solve this problem. This research demonstrates that implementing best practice in fisheries management, as required by the MSC Fisheries Standard, can deliver sustainable outcomes.”

He added: “Governments, fishery managers, fisheries and indeed all who champion sustainable fishing practises, will be encouraged by these outcomes.”

The results were published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Marine Science.

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