Evidensia’s Post

Rethinking sustainability of marine fisheries: this is the most important paper published on this theme in a long time. To be broadly shared and discussed and hopefully it will start to guide the international agenda ... https://lnkd.in/e_rv54gr

https://lnkd.in/dmS5EiS8 As we utilize living marine resources in EU waters for income, food provisioning, and social benefits, we must also consider their long-term sustainability and resilience. Overexploitation poses significant risks, which is why we propose a range of actionable recommendations that span both short- and long-term actions. Notably, it is crucial to prioritize existing alternatives to damaging fishing and farming techniques to preserve our marine resources. By ensuring abundant, sustainable stocks, balancing fleet size with available resources, protecting supportive marine habitats and reduce externalities, we can secure the long-term sustainability of our marine resources. Such actions include gatekeepers addressing the cost of transitioning to responsible, sustainable fishing and farming practices as a barrier to overcome. Let us all work together to preserve and protect our fisheries and the productivity of our oceans for generations to come. This review paper was written with Lara Salvany, Anne Marie Cooper, and Natacha Carvalho

A roadmap to reduce the risk of overexploiting EU marine living resources in a changing ocean - Frontiers in Marine Science: We provide a balanced overview of how risk assessment and management is being tackled in the European Union (EU) and beyond to address the challenges of overexploiting marine living resources in EU waters. We aim to guide EU fisheries and aquaculture policymakers towards key actions to foster the transition to responsible, sustainable, clean energy, and resilient fisheries and aquaculture sectors, aligning with EU environmental objectives under the European Green Deal and the Common Fisheries Policy. Despite progress in reducing fishing pressure on some stocks in recent years, most of the stated (single-stock) sustainability objectives still need to be met. The risk of overexploiting marine resources remains high, especially when combined with other pressures such as pollution and climate change. Risk is defined as the probability of an adverse event arising from natural or human activities and excessive pressures. Scientists have documented these pressures, proposing regional risk assessments to support adequate risk-based management of human activities impacting marine and coastal regions. As a next step, we recall actionable short- to long-term recommendations to reduce the risks associated with exploiting these natural resources and ensure their sustainability and resilience. This includes actions the EU can take to improve and implement fisheries policy while prioritising less harmful alternatives among current fishing methods and considering the three pillars of sustainability i.e. environmental, economic and social. Such actions include capturing in scientific advice the strong, causal links between pressures induced by human activities, natural disturbances and ecosystem states; such understanding can be used in an uncertain and changing environment, with ocean productivity possibly trending towards new levels. Finally, we restate that conserving by reducing pressures and restoring the integrity of marine ecosystems is crucial for minimising the risk of overexploitation and ensuring future fishing and farming opportunities. This is the aim of an Ecosystem Approach to fisheries and aquaculture – it should safeguard the long-term economic and social capital already invested by the public and private sectors in exploiting marine living resources to continue delivering healthy, low-carbon, low-impact seafood to EU citizens and beyond. https://lnkd.in/exrpJwEa

Sustainable Fisheries: The Foundation of the Blue Economy 🌊🌍 The Blue Economy encompasses a wide range of activities reliant on our oceans and freshwater bodies, from aquaculture and marine tourism to renewable energy and fisheries. At its core, however, are sustainable fisheries, which are crucial not only for food security but also for the economic stability and resilience of communities worldwide. ❗Why Sustainable Fisheries Matter: Without sustainable fisheries, we face the very real risks of overfishing, a significant loss of biodiversity, and detrimental economic impacts on coastal and inland communities. When fish stocks are depleted, it’s not just the environment that suffers but the livelihoods of countless individuals who depend on fishing for their income and well-being. Fishers, processors, traders, and their families rely on healthy fish populations to sustain their work and support local economies. 🌱Promoting Longevity and Resilience: Sustainable practices ensure that fish populations remain at healthy levels, allowing ecosystems to flourish and communities to thrive. By adhering to sustainable fishing practices—such as responsible catch sizes, habitat protection, and observing seasonal bans—communities can safeguard the health of our waters for generations to come. This, in turn, helps build resilience against the threats posed by climate change, economic instability, and over-exploitation of marine resources. 🌍Investing in Our Shared Future: Sustainable fisheries play a pivotal role in the Blue Economy, directly linking ecological health with economic prosperity. When we prioritize sustainable practices, we are making an investment in both environmental preservation and the future of our fishing communities. Protecting our waters today will help create a lasting legacy for generations to come. 💡By investing in sustainable fisheries, we are investing in the future of the Blue Economy. Let’s work together to protect our waters, empower our communities, and create a sustainable legacy. #SustainableFisheries #BlueEconomy #EnvironmentalSustainability #FisheriesManagement #Biodiversity #CommunityDevelopment #ClimateResilience #SustainableFuture #MarineConservation

Sustainable Fisheries: Ensuring the Future of Our Oceans Fisheries have been vital to human societies for millennia, providing essential food, employment, and economic benefits. However, the intensification of fishing activities and modern technology have led to overfishing and environmental degradation. Sustainable fisheries aim to balance seafood demand with marine health, ensuring fish populations and ecosystems thrive for future generations. Sustainable fisheries involve harvesting fish in ways that do not compromise their ability to reproduce and maintain their populations. This concept extends to the entire marine ecosystem, recognizing the interconnectedness of species and their habitats. Key principles include scientific management, regulated fishing practices, minimizing bycatch, protecting marine habitats, and considering social and economic factors. Despite the clear benefits, several challenges hinder sustainable fisheries. Overfishing remains a significant threat, exacerbated by illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Climate change impacts ocean temperatures and ecosystems, affecting fish populations and distribution. Economic pressures from growing seafood demand complicate the balance between economic interests and sustainability. Effective governance and enforcement are critical but often inconsistent, influenced by political and economic factors. Success stories demonstrate that sustainable fisheries are achievable. The North Sea cod recovery, driven by strict management measures and international cooperation, underscores the importance of science-based management. Community-based fisheries management in countries like the Philippines and Indonesia combines traditional knowledge with modern science, promoting sustainable practices at the grassroots level. The future of sustainable fisheries depends on innovation, collaboration, and commitment. Integrating new technologies for transparency and accountability, strengthening international agreements, and supporting local initiatives are crucial steps. Sustainable fisheries are essential for the health of our oceans and the well-being of millions who depend on them. With collective effort, achieving sustainable fisheries is a reachable goal. #SustainableFisheries #OceanConservation #MarineLife #SustainableSeafood #FisheriesManagement #SustainableFishing #SustainableDevelopment #SustainableEcosystems #SustainableAquaculture #SustainableFishingPractices #SustainableFishingIndustry #SustainableFisheriesManagement #SustainableFisheriesPolicy #SustainableFisheriesSolutions #SustainableFisheriesInitiatives #SustainableFisheriesResearch #SustainableFisheriesTechnology #SustainableFisheriesEducation #SustainableFisheriesCollaboration #SustainableFisheriesFuture #ValueIcons #ValueIconsMagazine #VI #ValueIconsExecutiveInsights #IndustryLeaders #ProfessionalGrowthJourney #ValueIconsCorporateVision #ExecutiveEdition #CEOInsights #IndustryMagazine #ValueIconsLeadershipJournal

By adhering to these principles and practices, sustainable aquaculture can contribute to food security, economic development, and environmental conservation, while minimizing negative impacts on ecosystems and communities. #sustainableaquaculture

"Many seafood products marketed as 'sustainable' are not. We must transition towards viewing fishing as a privilege, not a right." — Roberts et al., 2024 (with Ellen Pikitch ) If you’re investing in fisheries in any way, this is an important read. This insight directly aligns with eOceans “Blue Economy Tracker” and “Smart Fishery Tracker”, which goes beyond lumping all fisheries as ‘Blue Economy’ as described by The World Bank. Instead, using our tools to analyze catch, bycatch, and social values we provide a fishery-specific score. ‘Blue Economy’ and ‘Smart Fisheries’ labels are reserved for those fisheries that are both ecologically sensitive and socially just. And we don’t stop there—if a fishery is in the red zone (i.e., not considered a Blue Economy fishery), our metrics guide stakeholders on how to transition it from red into the Blue. This system helps prioritize investments, subsidies, and licensing in fisheries that truly support a sustainable and equitable fisheries and Blue Economy. https://lnkd.in/d92nBb4k

We are proud to present our Sustainability report for 2023. We are particularly proud because we have succeeded in reducing our emissions in our GHG accounting while growing our business. We are extremely proud of our employees who take responsibility every day for the products we sell and promote more sustainable alternatives and solutions. In 2023, we have met all our internal KPIs regarding the products we sell: - Increasing purchase of seafood from low-impact fisheries - Increasing purchase of regenerative seafood - Reducing purchase of seafood from bottom contacting fisheries - Increasing purchase of seafood from land-based aquaculture We will strive to continue reducing our impacts on biodiversity by promoting low impact and small scale fisheries, land-based aquaculture and the brilliant regenerative seafood that is grown in the big blue. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/dCPQb6Ca #sustainabilityreport #nordward

“I always imagine how small-scale fishers can continue fishing while their voices are heard by the government. This is crucial for fisheries management policies to become adaptable and practical for their needs.” -Putra Satria Timur, Fisheries Lead MDPI, at Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS) 2024. On 8th October 2024, MDPI spoke at the TSSS 2024, addressing the role of small-scale fishers in ensuring a sustainable future for seafood. Timur’s participation in the Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit highlights MDPI’s commitment to promoting sustainable fisheries, not only in Indonesia but also globally. His insights remind us of the importance of cross-sector collaboration in creating market-based solutions that benefit communities and the environment. Read Timur's whole story here: https://lnkd.in/gXyXns8e

− The marine environment is under significant threat from overfishing, pollution, and climate change. This affects biodiversity negatively, says lead author of ETC BE’s report Accelerating the Transition to Sustainable Food Production in European Seas, Lara Salvany in ICES - International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).  🌊 By offering vital ecosystem services, such as food provisioning through fisheries and aquaculture, the marine environment remains essential for human wellbeing. − In the report, we present a novel framework to evaluate the regional impacts of diverse types of fisheries and aquaculture practices on the various ecosystem components within EU waters, Dr. Salvany continues. 🐟 The report outlines a path toward sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in Europe’s seas, and what it will take to get there. − Achieving this transition will require coordinated efforts from policymakers, industry stakeholders, researchers, and local communities, with a shared commitment to protecting marine ecosystems and supporting sustainable livelihoods. Sasa Raicevich Tommaso Petochi Anne Marie Cooper giovanna marino Tomaso Fortibuoni Francois Bastardie Ena Briesemeister Luca Lamoni Colin Millar Natacha Carvalho #ETCBE https://lnkd.in/dqzQMgcr