November 1, 2006

Sustainable International Fisheries: Pipedream or Reality?

In the face of severely depleted stocks, habitat destruction, and increasing exploitation, the future of sustainable marine fisheries is questionable. Worldwide approximately eighteen percent of fish stocks are overfished and an additional ten percent are significantly depleted. As nearshore environments are depleted, fishing operations are increasingly exploiting fragile deep sea fisheries using destructive trawling techniques. The quantity of fish caught is decreasing due to continued overfishing, and despite increasing regulations, illegal and unregulated fishing is rampant in some regions. Paul Hagen (Beveridge & Diamond, PC) moderated a panel discussion on current efforts to ensure sustainable international fisheries. Topics included overfishing, overcapacity, bycatch and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The panelists discussed the existing management regime as well as additional potential opportunities and options to achieve sustainable fisheries.

Panelists included:
Talla Takoukam Patrice, Counsel, Environment and International Law Unit, World Bank Legal Department
Bill Hogarth, Director, NMFS; Chairman, ICCAT
David G. Burney, U.S. Tuna Foundation
Harlan Cohen, Advisor, Ocean Governance, IUCN

Please click here for more information on the current Ocean Seminar series.