Ending over fishing: Local to global efforts

Background/Question/Methods and Results/Conclusions

Fisheries are one of the oldest and most vital of coupled human and natural systems (CHANS). The UN estimates that over 3b people depend on seafood for their primary source of protein. Despite the importance of seafood to food security, all-too-few fisheries today are sustainable. Drawing on lessons learned about realigning incentives to facilitate sustainable fisheries, the talk will discuss current successes and challenges nationally and internationally.  In the United States, a combination of the 2006 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the adoption of catch share programs has led to significant improvements. Climate change and ocean acidification pose new challenges. The European Union is overhauling its Common Fishery Policy to address chronic problems. Fisheries in international waters are the most difficult, but efforts are underway to tackle the substantial changes needed. The ecological, economic, and political teleconnections in these CHANS present both challenges and opportunities.