Top marine scientists propose 11 ‘golden rules’ to redefine sustainable fishing. These rules challenge flawed approaches and advocate for ecosystem protection and social equity.
Leading ocean experts have called for fundamentally reimagining sustainable fishing practices, highlighting the urgent need to address environmental damage and social inequities in the global fishing industry.
In a study, lead author Professor Callum Roberts from the University of Exeter, said: “Our current approach to fisheries management is failing both marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. We need a radical shift in how we think about and manage our oceans.”
The study, published in NJ Ocean Sustainability, proposes 11 key actions to transform fisheries management. It emphasises the importance of minimising environmental harm, allowing for the regeneration of marine life and habitats, and adapting to climate change.
The report identifies fishing as one of the most significant causes of ocean damage, with practices such as bottom trawling and dredging causing particular harm to marine habitats. It also highlights the loss of traditional, small-scale fishing operations, which are often more sustainable and provide vital livelihoods for coastal communities.
“The world is changing fast, and fisheries management, as presently practised, largely lacks measures to ensure long-term ecological resilience and social equity in not only sustainable but also ethical fisheries,” the report reads, emphasising that we must transition towards viewing fishing as a privilege, rather than a right.
Among the 11 proposed actions, the experts call for:
- Fishing less and managing fisheries for lower impact
- Ruling out gears and fisheries that generate significant collateral damage
- Setting limits on the size of boats and gears
- Sourcing only from fisheries with good governance, sustainable stocks, and sufficient data
- Proactively incorporating ecosystem protection into fisheries management
- Placing the most vulnerable species and areas off-limits
The report also emphasises the need to address social and economic aspects of fisheries, including:
- Ending fisheries that abuse human rights or threaten food security
- Creating management systems that fairly distribute access and benefits
- Applying good practices wherever fishing companies operate
- Ending harmful subsidies
- Adopting zero-tolerance for companies engaged in illegal fishing
Co-author Dr Bethan O’Leary, from the University of York, explained: “Sustainable fishing isn’t just about maintaining fish stocks. It’s about ensuring the health of entire marine ecosystems and supporting the communities that rely on them.”
The researchers argue that current fisheries management often needs to focus more on maximising catch for individual species, neglecting broader ecosystem impacts and social considerations. They propose a more holistic approach that considers fish’s role in maintaining ecosystem health, including their importance in carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling.
The report also stressed the need to address issues of equity and human rights in the fishing industry. It calls for an end to practices that exploit workers or undermine local food security, particularly in developing countries where large-scale industrial fishing can deprive small-scale fishers of their livelihoods.
“Those who fish should have ethical responsibilities to limit environmental harm and promote societal benefit,” said co-author Dr Nathan Bennett from the University of British Columbia.
The experts argue that implementing these changes will require a combination of policy reforms, improved governance, and realigned economic incentives. They suggest that withdrawing harmful subsidies, particularly fuel tax breaks, could be one of the most effective ways to discourage destructive fishing practices.
There is also a call for greater transparency in fisheries management, including making detailed socio-economic and environmental data publicly available. According to the experts, this would allow for better monitoring and accountability in the industry.
While acknowledging the challenges of implementing such wide-ranging reforms, the authors point to successful conservation efforts and sustainable fishing practices worldwide. These include networked no-take marine reserves to support artisanal reef fisheries in the Caribbean and the temporal and spatial separation of lobster trap fisheries from endangered right whale feeding grounds in Canada.
The researchers stress that urgent action is needed to address the twin climate change and biodiversity loss crises. They argue that reforming fisheries management is crucial for the health of marine ecosystems, global food security, and the well-being of coastal communities.
“The ocean is a vital resource for humanity, providing food, regulating our climate, and supporting countless livelihoods,” said Professor Roberts. “We have a responsibility to manage it sustainably, not just for ourselves but for future generations.”
The report concludes by calling on policymakers, fisheries managers, and the fishing industry to adopt these new principles and actions as a blueprint for creating truly sustainable fisheries that benefit both people and the planet.
