For decades, there have been dire warnings about overfishing and the loss of biodiversity in their fisheries, yet this region has largely maintained its ecological health while still meeting the food needs of Southeast Asia’s growing population.
In a new study, Professor Matsuishi Takashi Fritz of the Faculty of Fisheries Sciences at Hokkaido University examined the status of Southeast Asia’s capture fisheries to understand why this particular region is swimming against the tide of overfishing and declining production.
The research provides lessons that can be learned for other capture fisheries around the world.
Southeast Asian fisheries have seen a steady increase in production over the past 30 years, which amounts to the greatest rise among world regions. Though that growth has plateaued since 2018, the region still outperforms many others.
At the same time, the fisheries’ productivity — defined as production divided by the number of fisheries — is the second lowest in the world. That’s because many more people are actively engaged in fishing in Southeast Asia than in many other regions.
The percentage of people fishing there is 3.4 times higher than the global average, because the region has the greatest dependence on aquatic foods for protein—and small-scale and artisanal fishers only catching enough for the local community or their own families.
“Small-scale fishing has various advantages: as its productivity is low, it’s possible to provide many jobs without overfishing,” says Prof. Fritz, author of the study published in the journal Fisheries Science.
“The small scale of the fishing gear has a low impact on the ecosystem; and the small amount of fish caught at one time ensures that the quality and freshness of the catch is high, and it is sold at a relatively high unit price.”
GREAT NEWS: Recovery of the Bluefin Tuna Achieves Major Goals A Decade Ahead of Schedule
An unusual feature of Southeast Asian capture fisheries is that while the percentage of overfished stocks is similar to the global average, the region has a three-fold higher ratio of under-fished stocks compared to the global average — the key finding of this study.
The capture fisheries tend to be multi-species rather than overfishing a few key species, which preserves the already high level of marine biodiversity.
GREAT CATCH: Number of Fish on US Overfishing List Reaches All-Time Low–Led by Mackerel and Snapper
“To maintain biodiversity, it’s essential to encourage the practice of non-species-selective multi-species fisheries and management,” Prof. Fritz concludes. “Protecting, promoting, and controlling small-scale artisanal fisheries that do not destroy habitats is also essential.”
SHARE THE POSITIVE TREND On Social Media…