What’s Going On Here?
Across the globe, researchers have created the first automated snapshot of industrial fishing’s environmental impacts by tracking the movements of fishing vessels using emergency beacons on ships. And the impacts are BIIIG — bigger than scientists thought, according to a new study.
What Does This Mean?
Too much fishing that’s what, with 55% of the oceans being used for industrial fishing. We are currently fishing proportionally more of the sea than we are of the land.
The Orange Box on the map above highlights multiple “no fishing” zones. The absence of tracking data in those areas suggests vessels are complying with regulations. However, the method can’t track smaller boats or vessels with disabled safety beacons …
Why Should I Care?
We are running out of fish, and until now it was very hard to monitor what is happening out in the deep blue sea. This development should – in theory – improve scientists and political bodies’ ability to protect the oceans from overfishing.
What You Can Do
Beyond reducing your fish intake – buy sustainably. Mackerel, sardines & herring over cod & plaice. Line-caught over net-caught. And Waitrose & Co-op over other supermarkets.
