Over 90 endangered fish and invertebrates are caught in industrial fisheries

Leslie A Roberson,Reg A Watson,Carissa J Klein

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-18505-6

Leslie A Roberson, Reg A Watson + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18505-6

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Abstract

Industrial-scale harvest of species at risk of extinction is controversial and usually highly regulated on land and for charismatic marine animals (e.g. whales). In contrast, threatened marine fish species can be legally caught in industrial fisheries. To determine the magnitude and extent of this problem, we analyze global fisheries catch and import data and find reported catch records of 91 globally threatened species. Thirteen of the species are traded internationally and predominantly consumed in European nations. Targeted industrial fishing for 73 of the threatened species accounts for nearly all (99%) of the threatened species catch volume and value. Our results are a conservative estimate of threatened species catch and trade because we only consider species-level data, excluding group records such as ‘sharks and rays.’ Given the development of new fisheries monitoring technologies and the current push for stronger international mechanisms for biodiversity management, industrial fishing of threatened fish and invertebrates should no longer be neglected in conservation and sustainability commitments.

Highlights

Industrial-scale harvest of species at risk of extinction is controversial and usually highly regulated on land and for charismatic marine animals
One-third of fished stocks are exploited at biologically unstainable levels[3] and 1 in 16 marine fish species are listed as threatened with extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (Red List)[4]
Mean price is less meaningful for chondrichthyans because they are often disaggregated with the liver, skin, gills, and especially the fins sold separately at a higher price per kg than the meat[27]

Summary

Introduction

Industrial-scale harvest of species at risk of extinction is controversial and usually highly regulated on land and for charismatic marine animals (e.g. whales). While certain populations of threatened fish and invertebrates are closely monitored with fisheries stock assessments, they are treated differently to other wild animals and are, in many cases, permitted to be caught in industrial fisheries regardless of the species’ global conservation status. This is unique to marine fish and invertebrates as industrial-scale exploitation of imperilled terrestrial or charismatic marine species is unacceptable from a conservation perspective, even when some populations are considered stable[6,7]. Climate change impacts will exacerbate pressures on threatened fish and invertebrates through warming waters, acidification, and loss of critical habitat and prey availability[22]

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