Sustainable Practices in the Seafood Industry: Making a Difference

Today's prevalent fishing practices are unsustainable, and with the global population of seafood eaters increasing, our seafood supply is rapidly decreasing. This has the potential to have long-term consequences for the health of our oceans as well as populations that rely on fishing for a living. Commercial fishing companies must shift to more sustainable fishing methods.

Unsustainable commercial fishing has a tremendous negative influence on the seas' ecosystems, from litter and pollution to overfishing and habitat destruction. For example, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is about the size of Texas and located between Hawaii and California, has 79,000 metric tons of plastic from abandoned fishing gear. Every year, abandoned fishing nets, commonly known as ghost nets, entangle around 100,000 sharks, whales, and fish that are crucial to ocean ecosystems.

This article addresses steps the fish business can take to reduce its detrimental influence on the world's seas. Now let us look at some of the practices that should be followed in order to make the fishing sector more sustainable.

Eliminating Bycatch

Bycatch refers to the unintentional capturing of non-target species. Every year, an increasing number of sea turtles, dolphins, and other wildlife are entangled in fishing nets, only to be released dead or dying, endangering many species' populations, particularly those that are endangered.

Bycatch can be reduced without making dramatic modifications to fishing methods. An excellent example is the creative solution devised by New England marine biologists in response to the falling cod population while haddock appeared to be thriving. To help reduce the number of fish trapped by mistake, they created a special net that released cod through the bottom while securing haddock in the upper compartment. The design was inspired by the observation that cod tend to swim downhill when approached by a net, whereas haddock tend to swim upwards. Reducing bycatch may necessitate some creative thinking and changes to present fishing designs and tactics.

Prevent Ocean Waste from Plastic Netting

Traditional fishing nets and lines are made of non-biodegradable, non-recyclable plastics, and they are frequently discarded, resulting in an accumulation of plastic trash.

A European project called BIOGEARS has created a prototype of bio-based ropes as one alternative. These ropes, made of natural materials, can disintegrate, making them a possible alternative to petroleum-based plastic.

It should be highlighted that keeping netting and lines out of our waters in the first place is critical. Fisheries should enact a stringent policy requiring the collection and disposal of all netting, lines, and other onboard debris.

Ban Overfishing endangered species

Overfishing has resulted in the extinction of numerous species. Annual catch restrictions are one way the fishing industry may aid in the conservation of species populations. Despite harsh fines and punishments, many fishing vessels continue to overfish due to the difficulty of enforcing these regulations across millions of square miles of open ocean.

However, harvesting non-endangered species makes more sense logically because it will allow commercial fishing to continue for future generations. However, consumer demand and the black market for seafood are pushing both overfishing and illicit fishing around the world. Fisheries that genuinely wish to be sustainable should support government resolutions prohibiting overfishing and illegal fishing.

Use Lead-free fishing gear

When fisherman loses their gear, it frequently ends up on the seafloor, where it is vulnerable to hungry fish and other sea life. Seabirds searching for a fast bite might also grab lines. Unfortunately, toxic lead gear poisons wildlife that consumes it.

Fishing gear has traditionally been made of lead, however there are now lead-free alternatives that do not endanger marine life. When selecting fishing tackle, make sure the materials are non-toxic and never throw used or damaged gear overboard.

Reduce Fossil fuel use

Fishing is one of the most energy-intensive activities, relying nearly exclusively on fossil fuels. In 2020, the world's fishing fleets consumed approximately 1.2% of total global fuel consumption. Furthermore, the shipping industry, which is responsible for delivering fish both locally and internationally, pollutes at a higher rate than all but five countries. In 2020, the world's largest 16 vessels produced more sulphur than all of the cars combined.

A seminar on energy efficiency in fisheries presented various technical ways to boost energy efficiency while reducing fuel dependency and costs. One approach is to use innovative fishing gear and increase the efficiency of fishing techniques, particularly trawling, which is the most demanding.

Another option was to combine efficient propulsion with onboard energy generation. Reduced cruising speed, usage of hybrid propulsion systems (electric + diesel) and biofuels, and optimization of hull and propeller design have all been projected to result in fuel savings and cost reductions. bound4blue has reinvented the sail to automatically adjust itself to optimize wind exposure. Inventions like this one help the fishing and shipping industries use less fossil fuel.

Although fuel and propulsion technology has a long way to go, fisheries can still reduce their onshore fossil fuel use by maximizing energy efficiency within their facilities and transitioning to hybrid or electric vehicles.

Many people, cities, and countries still rely on fish and other aquatic life for food and raw materials. We must limit overfishing and bycatch through fisheries management to safeguard fish supplies. Managing fish populations is not an easy task. It needs collaboration at all levels of government, from small communities to global governments.