Fishing and Aquaculture Overview

COASTAL WATERS ARE THE MOST PRODUCTIVE AND EXPLOITED ON EARTH. THEY COVER 7% OF THE OCEAN YET PRODUCE 90% OF ALL FISH CAUGHT. 87% OF FISH STOCKS ARE FULLY EXPLOITED OR OVER EXPLOITED.

By increasing protections and sustainably managing fisheries and aquaculture, we could rebuild depleted fish stocks, securing seafood for billions of people while reducing and absorbing up to 15% of climate emissions.

map sources: marine protected areas - World Database on Protected Areas | fishing activity – Global Fishing Activity, Global Fishing Watch. 2016. | David A. Kroodsma et al. Tracking the global footprint of fisheries. Science. | aquaculture - Gentry, R.R., Froehlich, H.E., Grimm, D. et al. Mapping the global potential for marine aquaculture. Nat Ecol Evol. 2017. Fig 1. Global Hotspots for finfish aquaculture.

"THE OCEAN ALSO HARBORS OLD-GROWTH ECOSYSTEMS EQUIVALENT TO PRIMARY FORESTS... WITH DEEP CORALS THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD."

“Covering more than 70% of our blue planet... with an average depth of almost 4 km, they provide over 99% of the habitable space for life on earth... Once thought to be nearly inexhaustible, many global fisheries have collapsed or are severely depleted.”

“The Global Deal For Nature” Dinerstein et al. 2019; | “Human Impacts on Ancient Marine Ecosystems” Torben C. Rick (Editor), Jon M. Erlandson (Editor) 2008.  Image Source:  Peter Southwood, Kelp forest on high profile reef at Partridge Point, Cape Peninsula. CC 3.0

ONLY 7% OF THE GLOBAL OCEAN IS PROTECTED.

“Industrial fishing is the largest hunting operation on the planet and targets more than half of the ocean surface... more than 1000 species are threatened with extinction due to fishing."

“The Global Deal For Nature” Dinerstein et al. 2019 | Global Database of Protected Areas | “Global Fishing Activity” Global Fishing Watch.

WHAT IF WE COULD PROTECT 50% OF GLOBAL OCEANS?

By rebuilding fish stocks with no-take zones, sustainably managed fisheries, and marine permaculture systems, we can protect 50% of our global oceans, increase productivity, and help combat ocean acidification.

Sources: Andrew Sharpless, Oceana. “Countries Where Fisheries are Sustainable” Oceanos. “Marine Permaculture” Drawdown, Climate Foundation.