The Ocean and Seafood: Last Realm of the Hunter-Gatherer

(1/04/2009) - Among the ways humans produce food in the 21st century, fishing is unique.  The ocean is the last place in the world where large numbers of people can acquire sustenance or make a living by gathering sea food.  Today’s fishermen are the last of the hunter-gatherers. 

Over the last half-century, humanity’s need for seafood has begun to push fish stocks over the cliff.  BBC environmental correspondent Richard Black writes that, “In 2003, 29% of open sea fisheries were in a state of collapse, defined as a decline to less than 10% of their original yield.” According to the Environmental Defense Fund, one billion people currently rely on seafood for a significant part of their diet.  Two hundred million people are employed directly or indirectly by the $80 billion fishing industry. 

In our history, humans have eliminated dozens of species of animals by over hunting.  Will fish be next?

Growing Population = Greater Need for Fish

Between 1950 and 1998, global per capita fish consumption outside of China remained virtually flat, while in China consumption skyrocketed from about a little over 1 kg/capita to nearly 30 kg/capita.  During that same period, the world population doubled.  These two factors – population growth and increased demand in China – contributed to a four fold increase in the worldwide fish catch. 

Between 1950 and 1986, the worldwide fish catch increased from 20 million (metric) tons to over eighty million tons.  Since 1986, the catch has remained around 80 million tons per year, while more and more fisheries collapse every year.  To make up for the collapsing fisheries, fisherman have begun to fish species commercially that they previously ignored, thus adding to the total number of fisheries.  Between 1980 and 2007, commercial fishermen added 1,736 species to their catch list.

Aquafarming, also known as aquaculture, has grew exponentially in the last several decades to help make up the difference between what the ocean is producing and what people want to eat.  Certain types of shrimp/prawns, fish, and shellfish are all grown in this manner around the world, and especially in China.  As with all industrial farming, aquafarms cause some environmental damage.  However, aquafarming offers the advantage of reducing pressure on native species.

No Seafood By 2050?

A couple of years ago, Science published a study that extrapolated rates at which global fisheries have collapsed over the past fifty years, and determined that in a business as usual scenario, nearly all global fisheries will be wiped out by mid-century (see the accompanying graph from the BBC).  Though the 100% collapse date could be pushed back by adding species into the mix (which would add more fisheries to the denominator), the difference between “all commercial fish will disappear” and “all fish you like to eat will disappear” isn’t terribly great. 

Will I be able to order a fillet of fish for my 70th birthday (gulp) in 2054?  I’m hopeful.  In the past, fishers have often resisted increased regulation and catch limits.  As fisheries collapse around them, existing fishers have the most to lose by not changing the status quo.  Between 1994 and 2003, the global catch fell 13%.  If fish stocks continue to collapse, the fishing industry will be the first to suffer. 

Government regulations, of course, do not guarantee the preservation of fisheries.  The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) describes the problem well:

“The three decades since the fisheries law was passed have been marked by ever-stricter rules, from restrictions on vessels and gear to how many days are allowed at sea. Such rules have forced fishermen into a competition with each other and with regulators.

“When regulators shortened the annual fishing season, fishermen responded by increasing fleet size and using more powerful engines. This triggered further cuts in the season, prompting fishermen to put out more hooks, lines and nets, leading to more cuts in the season, and so on. In some fisheries, such as Alaskan halibut, the annual commercial fishing season was ultimately reduced to just 48 intense hours.

“The 'race for fish' was on, and some fishermen began fishing day and night to maximize their catch in the limited time allowed. In such frantic derbies, fouled gear is often cut adrift, where the hooks continue to 'ghost fish' for months and years. Less selective gear is used, and discarded bycatch – the unintentional killing of fish and other ocean life – surges.

“Fishermen are compelled to go out in bad weather for fear of losing their catch to competitors, risking life or livelihood. They exceed catch limits and fish populations suffer. This 'tragedy of the commons' encourages dangerous, economically wasteful and environmentally damaging fishing.

“As the fishermen simultaneously deliver their catch at the docks, the temporary glut of fish depresses the price they are paid. More of the catch gets frozen, meaning less fresh fish is available to the American consumer year-round. This erodes quality and further reduces income. Finally, when the short derby season is over, the fishermen return home, often to long months of unemployment.”  

As an alternative, the EDF proposes a system of catch shares, in which individuals or communities are given (or sold) the rights to catch a certain percentage of a scientifically determined catch.  The idea is that if I am only allowed to fish for a week, it is in my best interest to catch as much as I possibly can during that period.  If my catch share limits me to 2% of the 100 ton yearly catch, I can take my time bringing in my share every year.  I also have an incentive to protect the health of my fishery.  If the health of the fishery improves and the collective catch limit is increased to 120 tons a year, my allotted catch will be increased as well. 

This is not a be all, end all solution.  Though the EDF says fish catches reduce the likelihood that fisheries will collapse, it admits that some still do.  It’s a step on the road to sustainable fishing.

Another proposal for maintaining fisheries is the fish preservation.  Under this scheme, a specific area of ocean is deemed off-limits to fishing.  The theory is that general biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem will help support sustainable populations of commercial species.  The fish preserve – ideally located along a coastline – would act as a stable and sizeable ecosystem can exist and maintain minimum populations of a wide variety of species.  Though the article I’ve cited isn’t very clear, the plan reminds me of “corridors” that have been successful in maintaining bird and mammal populations and connecting land ecosystems together. 

The fishing industry has many good reasons to adopt one or more of these proposals.  Between 1994 and 2003, the global catch fell 13%.  If fish stocks continue to collapse, the fishing industry will be the first to suffer.  Despite the enormous amount of interest fisherman have in seeing stocks maintained, however, some sort of regulatory system will be needed to halt over-fishing and promote habitat revival.

(Image Credit - Herr Hartmann)