The world’s major fisheries are being fished out well over their sustainable levels. While fish is currently the largest source of the world’s protein, it is soon to be a different story. Overfishing of major fisheries is leading to depleted levels of fish for consumption and brink of extinction for some fish species. The consequences of overfishing can lead to reducing the population of fish in the fishery to the point of not being able to return it to a sustainable level. It also is devastating one of our major protein sources. The shortage of fish in their marine habitat can lead to the destruction of the marine ecosystem. While this is a major problem facing the fish market today, it is also one that many consumers are unaware of. If we cannot raise awareness quickly and make major steps towards keeping our fisheries at sustainable levels, then we can look forward to a skyrocket in the price of a tuna melt and a possible raise in hunger across the globe.
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The challenge of resource depletion within our marine ecosystems has been well documented, the bigger challenge is what to do about it, and how to balance the needs of all stakeholders, both from an environmental and financial perspective.
ReplyDeleteThe solutions are not mutually exclusive, however there is strong debate on the methods. In the U.S. under the re authorization of the MS Fisheries Management Act, fisheries will be subject to some form of TAC or hard cap. This will have effects on local fishing communities who are suffering from overcapacity and jobs will be lost.
One of the ways to balance these negative side effects is to financially support permit banks, fisheries trusts and local fishing COOPS, which provide these organizations the ability to purchase quota and lease them within the community that can sustain local jobs.
My company Mission Markets Inc. www.missionmarkets.com which is creating a social an environmental capital marketplace, is doing just that, creating an investment case in which to support sustainable fisheries by increasing access to capital in support of permit banks, and fisheries COOPS.
We must approach this challenge from the heart of the matter, financially supporting the local communities most affected by this process.