Press Release Index

June 6, 1997

Ocean's Day Highlights Need For a Sea Change


school of fish
For More Information:

WWF's Endangered Seas Campaign: (+44) 1483-426-444 or fax (+44) 1483-426-444

To mark this year's World Ocean's Day (8 June), WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature is calling on governments, industry and individuals to help create a sea change -- and reverse the problems plaguing the world fisheries, including overfishing and destructive fishing practices.

Fish and other seafood have never been in greater demand -- nor more threatened. The FAO estimates that 70% of the world's fisheries are fully fished, severly depleted or slowly recovering.

"There are many signs that the world's fisheries are in trouble. There may well be no fish for the future unless governments, industry and individuals begin to act now to bring about a sea change for these marine animals and their environment," said Michael Sutton, director of WWF's Endangered Seas Campaign.

Every year, 30 to 70 million sharks are killed to support a growing worldwide trade in their fins and other products. As top predators with long life cycles and slow maturity rates, they are poorly adapted to commercial fisheries. Other giants of the sea, including marlin, sailfish, swordfish and tuna, are also being fished out of existence. For example, swordfish in the North Atlantic have declined 67% in the past two decades, while white marlin has lost 77% of their numbers during the past three decades.

WWF's Endangered Seas Campaign is working to help establish effective recovery plans for these threatened species. It is also urging governments to halt perverse subsidies that fuel overfishing and fishing fleet over-capacity and cost tens of billions of dollars annually. A recent WWF-UNEP workshop examining subsidies and trade issues called for rapid government action to reduce fishing subsidies, which deplete these natural resources and seriously damage the marine ecosystem.

Other campaign goals include eliminating destructive fishing practices and the unnecessary killing of wildlife in fisheries. Every year indiscriminate fishing practices kill more than 20 million metric tons of unwanted fish, seabirds, sea turtles and other marine mammals by dumping them back into the sea dead or dying. This amounts to one-quarter to one-third of the world catch.

One solution being supported by WWF is the establishment of the Marine Stewardship Council, an initiative that will eventually offer consumers an opportunity to buy seafood products that are labeled as coming from certified, sustainable sources. As an independent, non-governmental body, the MSC aims to create market-led, economic incentives for sustainable fishing by harnessing market forces and the power of consumer choice..

"By offering fishers, industry and consumers an alternative, WWF hopes to promote better fishing practices that will safeguard the marine environment and ensure we all have fish for our future," said Mr Sutton.