A new study co-authored by the Marine Stewardship Council’s Nicolas Gutierrez and published in Science this week reveals that additional efforts are needed to reach an internationally agreed set of biodiversity targets by 2020.
With a recent report by WWF showing that half of the world wildlife populations have disappeared in the last 40 years, this study reinforces the need for greater commitments to protecting biodiversity.
In 2010, 193 nations agreed on a set of 20 biodiversity-related goals, known as Aichi Biodiversity Targets. At the halfway point to the 2020 deadline, a team of 51 experts from over 30 institutions have assessed progress towards these targets, and projected whether or not they will be met.
They reveal that, despite increasing management efforts and financial investment in biodiversity, and a remarkable expansion in protected areas on land and at sea, accumulated and increasing pressures on the natural world mean that it is unlikely that most of the Aichi Targets will be met by 2020 if we remain on our current trajectory.
MSC certified fisheries contributing to sustainable oceans
Nicolas Gutierrez, Senior Research and Credibility Manager at the MSC and co-author of the study said: “Despite projections for most indicators showing that the impact of current management and policy efforts will not be enough to meet the agreed targets by 2020, the number of MSC certified fisheries has shown a significant increase.
"The continued engagement of fisheries in the MSC program highlights the sustained commitment from fishers, seafood companies, scientists, conservation groups, governments and the public to promote fishing best practice and ultimately contribute to delivering the Aichi target for fish and invertebrate stocks."
MSC research shows that since 1999, MSC certified fisheries have delivered over 500 improvements to their management practices. These fisheries account for one tenth of all wild-caught seafood and have committed to deliver over 600 further improvements by 2020. Together they are ensuring healthy marine environments and securing seafood and fishing livelihoods for generations to come.
Aichi target for fish and invertebrate stocks
One of the 20 Aichi targets is that ‘By 2020 all fish and invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants are managed and harvested sustainably, legally and applying ecosystem based approaches, so that overfishing is avoided, recovery plans and measures are in place for all depleted species, fisheries have no significant adverse impacts on threatened species and vulnerable ecosystems and the impacts of fisheries on stocks, species and ecosystems are within safe biological limits.’
The MSC, through its voluntary certification and ecolabelling program, promotes sustainable practices and creates incentives for improvements in all areas identified in the Aichi Target for fish and invertebrate stocks. Thus, the number of certified fisheries and their respective tonnage is considered a response indicator towards those goals.
Global Impacts: Read how MSC certified fisheries are delivering improvements >