Sustainable fishing: what is, benefits and types

Sustainable fishing is a practice that seeks manage and protect fishery resourcesavoiding its overexploitation and allowing different species to reproduce properly, ensuring their conservation and availability for future generations. It can also be defined as a Strategic activity which promotes the economic development of countries and raises the standard of living of fishermen and their communities.

Unlike conventional fishing methods, sustainable fishing It is done by hand and low scaleensuring greater long -term productivity and generating a large number of jobs for those who use this work as a subsistence mode. It should be noted that government and international support is needed, since many times, especially in those small fisheries in developing countries, the lack of data, information and resources, added to the absence of the State, can limit the adoption of these practices. Did you know that every year 16 million tons of fish and shellfish could be fish if the world’s fishing industries were managed sustainably?

• Protect marine fauna: Sustainable fishing adapts to the reproductive rhythm of fish to maintain the health of marine ecosystems and guarantee the survival of the most vulnerable populations.
• Use selective methods: By using other alternative methods to conventional fishing, it avoids indiscriminate and accidental capture of threatened species or lacking commercial value.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Fish and seafood have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to other animal protein sources, since to capture a kilo of fish, only 2% of the CO2 is emitted that is emitted to produce a kilo of red meat.
• Avoid waste: In sustainable fishing, all food is used, for example, dead individuals are used to make flours, thus minimizing waste.
• Reduces pollution: It generates less waste, minimizes energy consumption and reduces the use of chemicals.
• It encourages the creation of protected areas: Sustainable fishing encourages the creation of protected marine areas (AMP), where fishing activities are regulated. These areas help conserve critical habitats, protect in danger and allow fish reproduction. AMP also increase fishing biomass, benefiting adjacent areas and promoting the health of marine ecosystems.
• Reduces poverty: Artisanal fishing not only generates a large number of local work positions, especially in rural populations whose main income is based on access to fishing resources, if it does not allow the entry of currencies resulting from fish exports and other products.

• PELANGUE: It is a fishing art that is used to capture pelagic species and consists of a main line from which secondary lines called reinals are joined. Each reinal has a hook. This type of fishing has demonstrated its efficiency in the capture of sailfish (Istiophorus), Marlin (Istiompax indicates) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius).
• Nasas or traps: Nasas fishing is a passive and traditional fishing that has a low impact on marine ecosystems. There are several forms and types of nasas, and are mainly used to capture crustaceans, shellfish and cephalopods. To attract these organisms, it is placed bait inside the trap and when entering, they are trapped.
• Anzuelo and Caña: It is a more selective type of fishing that is done through a hook that is linked to the cane by means of a fishing thread.

In the last 30 years, fish consumption has increased significantly, promoting world demand. The Poor management of fisheries and intensive fishing They have led to the overexploitation of many fish populations. Although regional fishing management agencies supervise international waters, their regulations only apply to member countries.

The lack of effective governanceespecially in countries with limited resources, and Illegal fishingNot declared and not regulated (INDNR) have seriously impacted marine resources, especially affecting small -scale fisheries in developing countries. This overexploitation has not only damaged marine ecosystems, but also exacerbated social inequality and malnutrition in countries with food deficit since, despite the fact that developing countries produce more than 80% of world fish, their distribution is unequal.

The Sustainable fishing arises as a viable alternative To avoid overexploitation of fishery resources and is essential to preserve the health of our oceans and guarantee an equitable future for all communities that depend on them.

Now that you know what sustainable fishing is, we recommend you read this article about overfishing: what is, causes, consequences and solutions.

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