Environment

Fisheries

The world’s fishing fleet is so large that it can be seen from space. And this is what researchers at the University of California in Santa Barbara decided to exploit to assess the environmental impact of fisheries. (Source: Québec Science magazine)

According to their findings published in the Revue Science, fisheries now cover 55% of the world’s ocean surface, four times the area covered by agriculture. In 2016 alone, 70,000 commercial fishing vessels travelled 460 million kilometers, the equivalent of 600 return trips to the Moon. (Source: Québec Science magazine)

However, it was clear to researchers that commercial fishing efforts are greatly influenced by political and cultural realities, such as seasonal bans and festivities by different peoples. (Source: Québec Science magazine)

Active measures to ensure sustainable use of ocean resources are being put in place as global demand for seafood is increasing and fish stocks are falling. For example, the mesh size of the nets must not be too small so that the youngest fish are not caught and thus allow the species to renew; some nets are equipped with devices that allow turtles to escape from them (TED device); the fishing of many species is subject to strict quotas decided by government bodies based on the recommendations of observers, scientists, and economists.

Based on information on marine ecosystem dynamics, more and more countries and regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) adopt an ecosystem approach to fish stock management to avoid overfishing and allow for the recovery of natural resources.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture is the world’s fastest growing food production industry. (Source: WWF)
Demand for fish continues to rise, even as wild catches stagnate (95 million tonnes per year). Aquaculture, which already supplies nearly 50% of the fish consumed (50 million tonnes) is therefore a solution to avoid the depletion of marine stocks.

Aquaculture involves many types of seafood, fish, shellfish, crustaceans and seaweed. Aquaculture sites can be found in marine or inland waters.

Aquaculture, of course, in order not to harm the environment, must be carried out in ways that limit its impact on nature and wild stocks.

Many organizations help governments and industries regulate aquaculture activities to produce fish and seafood from sustainable, healthy aquaculture for consumers, with reduced use of antibiotics and pesticides, and environmentally friendly by reducing production waste and limiting the number of fish escaping from farms.