Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
and so-called 'ranching' operations for some of the popular species such as salmon,
cod and tuna (Huntington et al . 2004, WWF 2004a, b).
The pressure has never been greater on wild fish stocks, and there is a desperate
need to find workable solutions to what has been described by UK Fisheries Min-
ister Ben Bradshaw as the second biggest sustainability challenge we all face after
global climate change (BBC News Online 2004). Many factors are contributing
to accelerating the problem. The demand for seafood is increasing significantly in
many developed-world countries as more consumers respond to the health-related
messages to eat more fish (Lantin 2004, Bakalar 2006). The risk to global stocks is
also compounded by the growing problem of illegal, unreported and unregulated
fishing activity - pirate fishing - which has contributed to the depletion of commer-
cially valuable fish stocks around the world including Baltic cod and several species
of Pacific tuna (Oceanic Developement, Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management
Ltd and MegaPesca Lda 2005; WWF Denmark 2006). With no accurate estimates
of what is being taken illegally, it is virtually impossible to set meaningful allowable
catch quotas or to ensure that stocks are being maintained at suitably precautionary
levels to prevent overfishing.
There is no single solution to this global challenge to wild fish stocks. It is going
to take comprehensive and practical national and international policies, cooperation
and regulation particularly in relation to the management of high seas fisheries,
and enforcement and a concerted effort to eradicate pirate fishing. It will also
require a transformation in global seafood markets. As highlighted by the United
Nations Environment Programme Director (Box 4.1), we must utilise the power
Box 4.1 Achim Steiner, United Nations Environment Programme:
Support for the MSC
The new executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme has
called for a “new era” beyond campaigning in which environmental concerns are
integrated fully into economic market regulations.
Achim Steiner, who takes up his post on Thursday, told the Financial Times
that 'after 30 years of [raising] public awareness [about the environment] we have
the legislation and the facts but we are not touching the core of the economic
transactions in our societies. . . .In order to integrate environmental concerns into
economic regulations, governments and businesses should 'alter the incentive
structures in markets', said Mr Steiner.
'We must focus more on how markets can be made to work, how markets can
[incorporate environmental aspects to] make informed decisions'.
He cited as a good example of this public-private partnership schemes, such
as Unilever's work with WWF, the conservation group, to create the Marine
Stewardship Council, which promotes sustainable fishing ( Financial Times ,
12 June 2006).
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