Sustainable fishing is the concept of only catching a certain amount of fish that helps prevent the erosion of such populations and provides an environment where fish can reproduce to maintain their populations.
Rising demand in seafood and advancements in technology have led to a rise in fishing practices rapidly depleting fish and shellfish populations. More than 77 billion kilogrammes of fish is caught each year, and it is feared that if this continues it will cause the destruction of fish species.
Example of Overfishing – Bluefin Tuna
A prime example of the negative effects of overfishing is the Bluefin Tuna. Due to its popularity in food such as sushi and its high fetching prices, there is only 21 % – 29% of the population today compared to the 1970s. Poor controls at ports and under-reporting is one of the many factors that exacerbates efforts towards sustainable fishing.
Sustainable Fishing Authority
MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) is an international non-profit organisation that certifies sustainable fisheries and works towards overall fish and ocean sustainability. Click through to their website www.msc.org for more info. Similarly, SASSI is also involved with sustainable and ethical fishing within South African borders.