A coalition of 300 scientists has urged the EU to put an end to overfishing in a bid to stop severe damage to biodiversity and ecosystems under the sea.
The statement, which was delivered to EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius this week, calls for action by the EU and its member states to end the practice as an "urgent and necessary response to the climate crises."
The petition was started by British charity, Our Fish, who aim to reduce overfishing on a global scale. Aside from the scientists, the charity reports that over 135,000 EU citizens have signed, as a social media campaign under the hashtag #EndOverfishing rages on.
Twitter: @Bec_Hubbard
They hope the EU can regulate fishing and place limits based on scientific guidance and recognise that ecosystem-based fisheries management is critical to the health of the ocean and its capacity to respond to climate change.
The statement will also be delivered to the fishery ministers for the various member states before annual fishing limits are agreed upon in 2021, and to MEPs who are preparing their response to the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy.
The plea was primarily made in regards to three central areas:
- The Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate
- Council of the European Union, Council’s Conclusions on Oceans and Seas
The statement says: "In the EU it is estimated that at least 38% of fish stocks in the North-East Atlantic and Baltic Sea, and 87% in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, are being overfished.
"The combined effects of climate change and overfishing are accelerating the decline of ocean health. Ending overfishing would reduce the cumulative pressures on the ocean, increase its resilience and contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change. It would be decisive and important climate action and it can be taken today."
Professor Alex Rogers, Science Director at Rev Ocean, said: “Overfishing and bycatch are the largest drivers of biodiversity loss in the ocean.
“We need a healthy and productive ocean, and ending overfishing is key. This is especially the case when faced with the effects of climate disruption, which affects the whole ocean, including fish stocks themselves."
Dr Rainer Fröse of the Helmholtz Centre for ocean research Kiel, Germany, said: “Overfishing means taking more fish out of the water than can grow back."
"The whole thing also has an impact on the climate; fish stocks that are too small cannot fulfil their role in the ecosystem. If the ecosystem does not function properly, it cannot breathe properly and cannot absorb CO2 properly.”
Rebecca Hubbard, the programme director at Our Fish, added: “The science is clear - now the EU must ensure that a healthy ocean is central to its response to the nature and climate crisis - and that means finally putting an end to overfishing.
“Just like with our own health, if we continue to batter the ocean with overfishing, the whole system will weaken further, until it can no longer provide us with the life-support we need it for - oxygen, climate regulation, food and jobs."
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