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2048 Misconception Ocean Emptiness

This document summarizes arguments against the claim that not eating fish is necessary to save oceans. It notes that while industrial fishing causes problems, sustainable fishing is possible when based on data and science. Banning fish consumption is an extreme policy that most people cannot realistically follow, and does not address the root problems with industrial fishing practices. Focusing policy efforts on limiting subsidies and illegal fishing through traceability programs is a more effective approach.

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ZULAIKHA WIRA
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62 views2 pages

2048 Misconception Ocean Emptiness

This document summarizes arguments against the claim that not eating fish is necessary to save oceans. It notes that while industrial fishing causes problems, sustainable fishing is possible when based on data and science. Banning fish consumption is an extreme policy that most people cannot realistically follow, and does not address the root problems with industrial fishing practices. Focusing policy efforts on limiting subsidies and illegal fishing through traceability programs is a more effective approach.

Uploaded by

ZULAIKHA WIRA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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This claim is a misinterpretation of a now-dated research 

paper. Its authors


had suggested that by 2048, all the world’s exploited fish populations would
be so depleted by fishing that they would yield less than 10 percent of their
historically highest catches. There are thousands of such fish populations
throughout the world, which can be considered to have “collapsed,” but
they are not gone, and they can recover. In fact, this is what current
fisheries management in countries such as the US, which emphasizes
stock rebuilding, is often about.
They also claim that sustainable fishing does not exist. In fisheries science,
we use the term maximum sustainable yield (MSY), which determines the
maximum catch that can be sustainably extracted from a fishery.
While there are too many examples of unsustainable fishing around the
world, there are also well managed fisheries that rely on data and science.
These fisheries — which include European hake and yellowtail flounder on
the Grand Banks in New England waters — can and do rebound to become
sustainable and abundant.

Giving up seafood won’t save the oceans

They want us to believe that not eating fish is the central way we should go
about fixing the problems that industrial fishing creates for the oceans.

To opt for vegetarianism and veganism is a very respectable position, and


it may (have to) become a majority decision in the coming years, to limit the
climate crisis as well. But right now, this is a position that only a small
fraction of the population of wealthier countries will take.

When you decide on an absurd policy, you must knock down the
alternatives, however sensible they might be.

Unfortunately, much of the other 85 percent of the planet will continue to


eat fish because many will not even know about, nor be able to afford, a
wholesome vegan diet.

Why is the 2048 prediction inaccurate?


Dr Michael Melnychuk, an expert in fisheries sciences from Washington
University, highlights some of the issues with the 2006 prediction.
He says that "the definitions of 'collapsed' by the authors are based on
catch data during the year, but these do not necessarily reflect
abundances of fish populations".
He also points out that the method used by the authors to extrapolate
data into the future was not realistic.

There’s a study by a marine biologist at the Oceana’s board, it


has played a key role in advocating for policies that would
impose limits on industrial fisheries, such as helping the World
Trade Organization abolish the huge subsidies that industrial
fisheries still receive from governments. It has also led
successful efforts to fight seafood fraud and illegal
fishing through robust traceability programs.

For the one billion people who rely on seafood for protein (largely in
undeveloped countries), not eating fish isn’t much of an option – and
for the many more who use seafood as a nutritious, healthful source of
protein as a component of their diets, adding to the misinformation
about the status of our world’s fisheries makes the notion of
sustainable seafood confusing, as well as potentially damaging for the
livelihoods of millions of people who depend on fishing as a way of
life.

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