Sustainable fishing and good fisheries management are helping to maintain ocean biodiversity according to a report produced by the UN.
The Global Biodiversity Outlook 5 reports on the progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2010-2020) and outlines seven transitions needed to reach 2030 goals and the agreed vision for 2050 – ‘Living in harmony with nature’.
The report says that where good fisheries management policies have been introduced marine fish stocks have been maintained or rebuilt. It also highlights the growth in MSC-certified fisheries as helping to achieve the Aichi targets and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 14 ‘Life Below Water’.
“The loss of species and habitats highlighted in the UN report on biodiversity not only impact the survival of other species, but of humans too – billions of people rely on seafood as their main source of protein,” said the Marine Stewardship Council’s chief science and standards officer, Rohan Currey.
“There is hope,” he continued. “Across the globe, fisheries large and small are demonstrating it is possible to be more productive and profitable by maintaining healthy fish stocks, minimising impacts on marine ecosystems and following good management systems by meeting the criteria we set for sustainable fisheries.”
“Today, more than 15% of global catch is certified to the MSC Standard, and we have set an ambitious target to have more than a third of landings engaged in the MSC program by 2030,” he concluded.
