Destructive fishing: An expert‐driven definition and exploration of this quasi‐concept

Numerous policy and international frameworks consider that “destructive fishing” hampers efforts to reach sustainability goals. Though ubiquitous, “destructive fishing” is undefined and therefore currently immeasurable. Here we propose a definition developed through expert consultation: “Destructive...

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Published inConservation letters Vol. 17; no. 3
Main Authors McCarthy, Arlie Hannah, Steadman, Daniel, Richardson, Hannah, Murphy, Jack, Benbow, Sophie, Brian, Joshua I., Brooks, Holly, Costa‐Domingo, Giulia, Hazin, Carolina, McOwen, Chris, Walker, Jessica, Willer, David F., Abdi, Mohamad, Auster, Peter J., Bealey, Roy, Bensted‐Smith, Robert, Broadburn, Kathryn, Carvalho, Gonçalo, Collinson, Tom, Erinosho, Bolanle, Fabinyi, Michael, Febrica, Senia, Forbi, Wilson Ngwa, Garcia, Serge M, Goad, David, Goldsworthy, Lynda, Govan, Hugh, Heaphy, Charles, Hiddink, Jan Geert, Hosch, Gilles, Kachelriess, Daniel, Kinch, Jeff, Lancaster, Alana Malinde S. N., Le Manach, Frédéric, Matthews, Thomas, Ortiz, Alfonso Medellín, Morgan, Alexia, Motta, Helena, Murua, Hilario, Namboothri, Naveen, Ndiritu, Evelyne, Passfield, Kelvin, Pilcher, Nicolas J., Portus, James O., Rguez‐Baron, Juan M., Robertson, Morven, Sharma, Abhilasha, Suazo, Cristián G., Tamini, Leandro Luis, Vilata‐Simón, Juan, Mukherjee, Nibedita
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.05.2024
Wiley
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Summary:Numerous policy and international frameworks consider that “destructive fishing” hampers efforts to reach sustainability goals. Though ubiquitous, “destructive fishing” is undefined and therefore currently immeasurable. Here we propose a definition developed through expert consultation: “Destructive fishing is any fishing practice that causes irrecoverable habitat degradation, or which causes significant adverse environmental impacts, results in long‐term declines in target or nontarget species beyond biologically safe limits and has negative livelihood impacts.” We show strong stakeholder support for a definition, consensus on many biological and ecological dimensions, and no clustering of respondents from different sectors. Our consensus definition is a significant step toward defining sustainable fisheries goals and will help interpret and implement global political commitments which utilize the term “destructive fishing.” Our definition and results will help reinforce the Food and Agricultural Organization's Code of Conduct and meaningfully support member countries to prohibit destructive fishing practices.
Bibliography:Nibedita Mukherjee and Arlie Hannah McCarthy equal contribution
ISSN:1755-263X
1755-263X
DOI:10.1111/conl.13015