White Paper: Fishing Controversies
Considering the extensive adversarial impact of overfishing on marine biological systems, it is prudent that institutions realize the importance of implementing mitigation measures. The proposals in this research for organizations include incorporating economic fishing techniques to target small amounts of fish and adhering to the regulations on fishing of target and non-target species in singular fisheries through the control of at least one of a few components at the entire fishery level. Fisheries management also needs to adopt and implement catch shares for committing a protected portion of fish to an angler, vessel, local area, or fishery affiliation. A total permissible catch share is set up, utilizing logical information about fish stock’s health and the ecosystem in a specific territory. Subsequently, the catch shares are authorized out to each fishing business, disclosing precisely the amount of every fish species they are permitted to catch. Notably, these proposed changes will have an impact on their future and do have a reflection on their history.
The Implementation of the Proposals In Organizations
In this research, the proposals recommended point out how the organizations, especially those in the aquaculture industry, have been conducting themselves to extensively affect the marine biological systems. These organizations enjoyed free and open access to these resources leading to overcapacity. Overcapacity is a long-term challenge that reflects the divergence between resources utilized in harvesting the resource and the resources required to harvest the resource optimally (FAO 12). Harvesting at an optimal level is driven by fisheries management’s objectives that are either economically, socially, or conservation-based or all three elements combined. Historically, these organizations overexploited the fisheries, which has led o minimal excess capacity for various fish stocks (FAO 13). Therefore, these organizations are looking to achieve a maximum sustainable yield by reducing or eliminating overcapacity. In the recommendations, it is evident that a fundamental management issue is handling the root causes of overcapacity. This will subsequently aid in fisheries management, specifically the conservation of fish stock.
A historical view on the organizations’ sequence of human disturbance to the marine ecosystems provides a framework of remediation and restoration (Jackson et al. 636). There is a need for historical data, specifically paleoecological data and archaeological data, among other data, to be analyzed and provide refined information on the histories of particular ecosystems. This historical information is fundamental in implementing the proposals made in this research. This information becomes an essential tool for these organizations who previously did not incorporate it in the strategy (Jackson et al. 636). A recognition of the losses from the historical information will demonstrate the future of the coastal ecosystems and the extensive magnitude of economic resources that could be retrieved if the organizations are entirely willing to act based on historical knowledge. The central element in successfully restoring the economically important fisheries lost is understanding that the process has deep historical roots, which the organizations were part of. Therefore, the comprehensive analyzed information should provide information on the endangered ecosystems, where they can venture sustainably, and what they can do to restore the damaged ones.
Notably, the implementation of these proposals will have to be built upon a particular framework to guide the organizations. The Blue Growth Initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) helps countries develop and implement the current global agenda focused on sustainability and economic growth of the marine ecosystems (FAO 7). It fosters the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (The Code) and also the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries and Aquaculture (EAF/EAA) (FAO 7). A reflection of the guidelines provided by these frameworks should provide a proper foundation to deal with vulnerable coastal ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Also, partnership with the relevant authorities is fundamental due to the need to strengthen the ocean ecosystem governance (FAO 7). This should guide the use of water spaces and resources. Various activities must be coordinated in different regions to acknowledge the cumulative effects and harmonize the sustainable goals and legal frameworks. There is also the need to add a layer of governance that will handle the coordination across various sectors to affirm that they are all working towards environmental protection and the conservation of both ecosystems and biodiversity (FAO 7). These interactions should also address the social and economic development goals. Generally, these organizations’ impact in implementing the proposals will rely on how they use historical information related to the fisheries, understand what they are supposed to do, and then use the available frameworks to develop a respective course of actions that will lead them to their objectives.
The Impact of the Proposals on the Organizations’ Future
Organizations and the stakeholders do have a fundamental role in reducing overfishing, which starts by tracing their supply chains (Mehta). Satellite technology, machine learning, and even observers could ensure that they are working within the proposed frameworks. The organizations could launch an interactive map so that their partners and stakeholders could identify the fish being caught and the sustainable levels being attained through their fishing practices (Mehta). The future of these organizations will be described as being focused on ensuring the sustainability of the fisheries. This move will acknowledge their moral imperative to restoring fisheries globally which secures the food chains for the present and incoming generations.
Notably, adopting sustainability strategies builds a better reputation for the organizations, which subsequently improves their financial levels. Also, these sustainability strategies will be improving the lives of fishermen ultimately. These organizations need to understand that they will need to work with fishermen to implement feasible solutions for their respective resources and the communities relying on them. The collaborations will lead to science-based limits, which is fundamental in any catch share program (Mimikakis). The catch shares provide an economic incentive to fishermen to live within the set limits, which are practical guarantees ending overfishing. The future of these organizations will be characterized by collaborations with relevant stakeholders that will further bring in promising developments in global fisheries management. Generally, proper scientifically based frameworks increased understanding and alliances with fundamental stakeholders, leading to healthier fish stocks and a sustainable future for future generations.
Works Cited:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Fisheries Department. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture. Food & Agriculture Org., 2016.
Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations (FAO). “FISHERIES MANAGEMENT 3. Managing fishing capacity.” Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries., 2008.
Jackson, Jeremy BC, et al. “Historical overfishing and the recent collapse of coastal ecosystems.” science 293.5530 (2001): 629-637.
Mehta, Angeli. “‘Over-fishing a Worse Threat to Oceans Than Climate Change.'” Reuters Events, 2019, www.reutersevents.com/sustainability/over-fishing-worse-threat-oceans-climate-change.
Mimikakis, John. “Ending Overfishing is Vital to Our Future: A Reminder As Congress Reviews the Magnuson-Stevens Act.” fish, 10 Nov. 2014, blogs.edf.org/edfish/2013/03/12/ending-overfishing-is-vital-to-our-future-a-reminder-as-congress-reviews-the-magnuson-stevens-act/.
