Ocean & Fishery Sustainability: Resources for Student Research

Overfishing

Overfishing occurs when too many fish in a particular stock are caught and there are not enough adults to breed and sustain a healthy population. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation monitors over 500 fish stocks around the globe. In 2022, it is estimated that over 35% of these fish stocks were overfished. Overfishing is a serious global problem that threatens ocean wildlife and biodiversity. Loss of marine life brings a further threat to the millions of people who rely on seafood for protein and livelihoods.

Sustainable Fishing

Fish swim around and need time to grow and re-produce. Sustainable fishing allows this to happen while protecting habitats and threatened species. Sustainable fishing means fishing in a responsible way that prevents overfishing, minimises bycatch and maintains marine biodiversity.

Marine Stewardship Council's work to end overfishing

The Marine Stewardship Council is on a mission to end overfishing and has a vision of an ocean that is teeming with life.  When you see the blue fish tick label from the Marine Stewardship Council on a seafood product it indicates certified sustainable seafood from healthy, wild fish populations.

Impact on overfishing

For 25 years fisheries, scientists, consumers and industry have been part of a collective effort to make sure our oceans are fished sustainably. Since the Marine Stewardship Council was founded in 1997, fisheries responsible for around 15% of marine catch have been certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard. Certification is helping to grow and maintain the number of sustainable fish populations. To remain certified, fisheries have so far made over 2000 improvements to their performance and management.

Fishing Methods

A range of gears are used in commercial fishing. Every type of gear has some effect on the ocean environment. However, if carefully managed, virtually all gear types can be used responsibly and sustainably.

Bycatch

Bycatch is fish or other marine species caught unintentionally while trying to catch another type of fish. In some cases, bycatch cannot be avoided, and unwanted fish end up in the fishing net. Responsible, well-managed fisheries will proactively reduce their bycatch.

Fact-checking Netflix's Seaspiracy

The Seaspiracy film on Netflix raises a wide range of issues relating to our oceans, including questioning the credibility of the sustainable seafood movement and, in particular, our organisation, the Marine Stewardship Council. While we agree more attention needs to be given to the crisis of overfishing, we do want to set the record straight on some of the misleading claims in the film.

Mission: Save the Ocean (fisheries)

Mission: Save the Ocean as featured on Nat Geo Wild and narrated by Sir Richard Branson explores the various solutions to overfishing.  This episode follows the work of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) exploring best practice fisheries management and state of the art DNA testing.

Climate Change and Fishing

Sustainable fishing has the potential to make fishing operations more resilient to climate change. Many of the key components of sustainable fisheries management also set fisheries up to be more adaptable to change. Fisheries also have the potential to help reduce carbon emissions by increasing the efficiency with which fish are caught.  Although individual fisheries have an important role to play in implementing sustainable practices, international cooperation is vital to ensure shared stocks are managed in a way that ensures their long-term sustainability.