The end of overfishing would not only restore fish stocks, but also help to address some of the negative effects of climate change, according to a report presented on Monday, September 2 by the NGO Our Fish.
The report's conclusions "offer EU governments a realistic opportunity to deliver immediate and effective action on dangerous climate change, as well as meeting their legal obligations to finally quit overfishing", says Our Fish. This discussion paper entitled "Ending Overfishing Is Opportunity to Combat Climate Crisis" was written by Rashid Sumaila and Travis Tai of the University of British Columbia.
The report states that: - overfishing and climate change are two of the main factors affecting the health of the oceans; - at least 40% of fish stocks in the North-East Atlantic and 87% of those in the Mediterranean and Black Seas are currently subject to unsustainable fishing practices; - climate change can contribute to increased pressure on fish stocks; - improving fishing measures to achieve the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) should not only increase catches in the long term, but also offset some of the negative effects of climate change on stocks.
The report also shows that MSY is generally expected to decrease with climate change, but that some areas will face increases (temperate and polar regions), while others will experience a significant decline (such as tropical regions).
To consult the report: http://bit.ly/2lqfVfy (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)