LISBON - WWF, the world's largest conservation organization, unveiled a new map today showing threatened fisheries within the world's most biologically important marine areas and called on governments and industry to find new solutions to halt the escalating global fisheries crisis.
"The map identifies outstanding marine ecoregions that contain fisheries severely threatened by overfishing and destructive fishing practices," said Michael Sutton, director of WWF's Endangered Seas Campaign. "This week's conference aims to explore solutions that will safeguard these critical areas, as well as other marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of those who depend on them."
Participants at the WWF conference, Creating a Sea Change: Resolving the World's Fisheries Crisis, are debating innovative tools such as establishing no-fishing zones, creating market incentives and reducing subsidies that could help bring about better fisheries management. "All stakeholders realize that time is running out. These solutions represent the best hope for ensuring sustainable fisheries management," said Mr. Sutton.
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an independent initiative designed to create market incentives for responsible fisheries through independent certification and labelling, is one new idea with broad support among fishers, processors, retailers and conservation groups. Once operational, it will give consumers a choice to purchase fish and other seafood they know came from sustainable sources.
Stacy Standley, director of WWF's Living Planet Campaign, issued a special appeal to business and governments to take extraordinary action and make a "Gift to the earth" to ensure the future of marine fisheries. He cited examples, including Unilever's commitment to the MSC, recent efforts by Italy and Monaco to create a whale sanctuary in the Mediterranean, and a newly declared "Gift to the Earth" to establish marine protected areas in Portugal.
"WWF congratulates the Portuguese government on the successful outcome of the Law decrees creating the first continental marine protected areas in Portugal, Arrabida and Berlengas," said Mr. Standley. "This is an important contribution for the conservation of marine biodiversity and a step towards the establishment of a network of marine protected areas.
"With help from all stakeholders, we still have time to restore abundant seas and leave our children a living planet," Mr. Standley concluded. "The health of the marine environment and the lives and livelihoods of millions of people around the world depend on what we do now."
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For more information about the map or the fisheries conference, please contact Karen Flanders, (31) 65425-1769, Someshwar Singh at (41) 79-310-8102 or Leigh Ann Hurt (44) 468-336-398; or call the WWF Room at the Conference Centre at (35) 11-361-2502/2505.
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