Sustainable Fisheries & Aquaculture
Seafood comprises at least 15 percent of the average animal protein intake for more than three billion people, and is the primary protein source in many areas of the developing world. But due to overfishing, destructive fishing practices, environmental changes, and other stressors, the world's wild fish stocks are suffering. Overall, 80 percent of the world's stocks are either fully exploited or overexploited, even as increased population and economic growth increase the global demand for seafood.
This demand has supported tremendous growth in aquaculture production, which now contributes half of the fish consumed globally. Expansion of the aquaculture industry has not come without negative consequences, such as the sustainability of fish feed, competition for scarce freshwater resources, escapes, and pollution.
Through its Ocean Program and International Programs, ELI works to develop legal and policy frameworks that address these myriad challenges and that support the sustainable management of wild and farmed fish and shellfish resources.
U.S. Fisheries Compliance and Enforcement
The Ocean Program seeks to advance understanding of the compliance with and enforcement of domestic fisheries laws, regulations, and policies. Through a project undertaken in collaboration with the University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science, ELI has surveyed fishing communities and analyzed historical data to characterize compliance and enforcement in United States fisheries and identified potential strategies for improving fisheries management. ELI is currently conducting a focused assessment on compliance and enforcement in the Gulf of Mexico red snapper catch share fishery, supported by the National Sea Grant Law Center.
Aquaculture Certification Systems
ELI fosters the development and continued improvement of incentive programs that encourage producers to implement sustainable practices. In partnership with the Ocean Foundation, ELI identified best practices for the governance of aquaculture ecolabels and continues to work with certification systems to make additional improvements.
International Fisheries and Aquaculture Management
In addition to the Ocean Program, ELI's International Programs work to further the development of laws and policies for aquaculture practices in nations beyond the U.S. ELI has worked to identify legal challenges to the development of sustainable and community-led aquaculture in Guyana and Brazil and has worked to develop improved fisheries management in Lake Victoria.
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