Governments failed to stop overfishing: study Thu May 18, 8:24 PM ET

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Governments failed to stop overfishing: study Thu May

18, 8:24 PM ET

 

 

 

GENEVA (Reuters) - Governments worldwide have failed

to prevent overfishing in the oceans, where a

proliferation of bottom-trawling threatens to wipe out

deep sea species, conservation groups WWF and Traffic

said on Friday.

 

 

The environmentalists said the existing system of

regional fisheries regulation, meant to control the

depletion of ocean life, had responded slowly to new

threats and done little to enforce fishing quotas or

rebuild vulnerable stocks.

 

Their report, released ahead of a New York meeting on

the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, argued

that controls needed to be reinforced to prevent

further damage to marine ecosystems and future food

supplies.

 

" Given the perilous overall state of marine fisheries

resources and the continuing threats posed to the

marine environment from over-fishing and damaging

fishing activity, the need for action is immediate, "

said Simon Cripps, director of the World Wildlife

Fund's global marine program.

 

Illegal fishing " by highly mobile fleets under the

control of multinational companies " was cited in the

report as one of the top threats to the sustainability

of marine life. Governments were also at fault for not

respecting limits.

 

" Vast over-capacity in authorized fleets, over-fishing

of stocks ... the virtual absence of robust rebuilding

strategies ... and a lack of precaution where

information is lacking or uncertain are all

characteristic of the management regimes currently in

place, " it said.

 

Stocks of some deep sea species, such as the orange

roughy, have collapsed in the last decade as

regulators failed to respond to an expansion of

bottom-trawling in deep waters.

 

Despite the failure of groups like the Northwest

Fisheries Organization to stop overfishing -- a

practice that can destroy marine life, cut off food

supplies and eliminate jobs -- WWF and Traffic said

regional blocs could achieve conservation goals.

 

Their report urged more cooperation between regulators

and stricter environmental rules to " prevent empty

oceans, empty plates and lost livelihoods in the

future. "