The global fisheries crisis: dispelling myths and misconceptions, and fishing for solutions

Abstract

Many authors have highlighted the crisis facing world fisheries and the threat this implies for the world economy, food supplies, and livelihoods. Several authors have diagnosed the problems (often simplified as ‘too many boats chasing too few fish’) and prescribed remedies (reducing the number of vessels or ‘fishing capacity’). In general both the diagnoses made and remedies prescribed emphasize the need to address environmental problems (over fishing, resource depletion, habitat destruction, etc.) using technical managerial approaches (rights-based management, Marine Protected Areas, etc.). These are often based on partial data, myths, and misconceptions. They also fail to address the human dimensions of fisheries, especially the human rights of communities whose livelihoods and food security depend on accessing living aquatic resources. The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication being developed by the FAO, along with related measures that link the promotion of best practices (for responsible fisheries), including ‘scale subsidiarity’, to the social development of fishing communities, would go a long way to resolving the global fisheries crisis while alleviating poverty and promoting sustainable development.