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Recent fishery research and insights:
Seafood, like all food, has environmental costs and impacts. We often report on data and science that examines seafood impacts and compare it to the impacts of terrestrial food production.
Environmental Impact Displacement in Fisheries & Food
Environmental impact displacement is an important policy concept with implications for fisheries and food.
What is the Global Footprint of Fishing?
Scientists are getting closer to figuring out how much of the world’s ocean is fished, but discrepancies in the scale and interpretation of data are producing wildly different answers with contrasting conservation implications.
A closer look at the environmental costs of food
A new paper compares and quantifies the environmental impacts of different foods, an important step for improving agricultural policy and empowering consumer choice.
Fishery management is implemented by a government or regulatory body. It dictates the rules and regulations that allow fishermen and women to harvest seafood. Effective fishery management is the most important pillar of sustainable seafood.
Fishery management is composed of small, concrete actions—which ones are best?
New research suggests a swiss-cheese model for sustainable fishery management, along with rebuilding plans.
Having our fish and eating it too: Maximizing food production and biodiversity using good management
A new paper describes how regulating specific kinds of fishing in particular areas is extremely effective at preserving biodiversity while also producing food.
Ocean Optimism?
New research says we have the policy blueprints to rebuild marine life by 2050. Decarbonization needs to happen quickly, though.
Fishery status, a snapshot look at if a fishery is sustainable or not, has been a common way to classify stocks. For example, “overfished” is a status with calculated thresholds. We cover all aspects of fishery status, including why status is no longer a good way to talk about fisheries–increasingly fisheries are classified as “overfished” due to environmental changes like climate change.
Overfished, overfishing, and rebuilding stocks
How does a fishery become unsustainable? How do we rebuild an overexploited fishery? In this post we explain overfished, overfishing, and rebuilding stocks.
How many Fisheries are Overfished?
According to the U.N., 78.7% of fish come from a sustainable fishery. Of all monitored fisheries, 66% are sustainable, while 34% are overfished.
What will Fisheries be like in 2048?
No scientist would support the assertion that all fish stocks will be collapsed by 2048. There are threats, however.
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are extremely popular with NGOs and politicians. Getting an MPA established looks good on a resume of accomplishments, but they don’t function quite like protected areas on land. Scientists are split on their efficacy. In coastal areas with sensitive habitat, they are effective, but MPAs to restrict fishing often just move fishing to other areas.
Do large MPAs benefit tuna and fishermen via spillover?
Medoff et al. 2022 claims that the largest MPA in the U.S. benefited both tuna populations and fishermen via spillover. However, the science does not stand up to careful scrutiny and we doubt their results.
Marine protected areas don’t help tuna, new paper shows
Researchers find that the Phoenix Islands Protected Area did not meaningfully boost tuna populations.
Retraction of flawed MPA study implicates larger problems in MPA science
A recent retraction in a high-profile journal raises questions about predicting the impacts of marine protected areas.
MPAs will suffer, along with the rest of the ocean, as the planet warms
A new paper mapped the effects of future emissions on marine protected areas (MPAs) around the world. The results were unsurprising—climate change threatens every MPA (and indeed every part of the ocean), with a range of impacts.
Bottom trawling is the most controversial type of fishing. It provides 26% of wild-caught seafood, but, when not managed well, has the potential to be destructive. Bottom Trawling Sustainability 101 gives a great overview.
New review shows bottom trawling is sustainable (when well-managed)
Seafood from bottom trawling can have a lower impact than other types of animal protein–especially when it comes from a well-managed fishery.
The global impact of bottom trawling visualized with data
A new paper with a cool map shows the impact of bottom trawling around the world.
How are benthic invertebrates impacted by bottom trawling?
Bottom trawling has destructive potential, but new research shows impacts can be limited with sound science and management.
Fishing has several relationships to carbon emissions. On one hand, seafood varies greatly in its carbon impacts. Some species are some of the most carbon-friendly foods to eat on the planet, others compare to beef! On the other hand, an emerging issue in fisheries and conservation is how bottom trawling impacts the carbon cycle on the seafloor. A big paper, Sala et al. 2021, made some bold claims that have mostly been disproven. We’ve covered the science of bottom trawling and carbon extensively.
Third critique of Sala et al. 2021 published by Nature
Yet another critique of the poor science in Sala et al. 2021 – the most covered fisheries research of the last decade.
Officially bogus: Bottom trawling does not release as much carbon as airline travel
Remember the headlines claiming fishing released as much carbon as airline travel? Those claims are Officially Bogus with the release of a new paper.
The climate change impacts of nutrition
How does climate change impact and nutrition factor into your daily food choices? A new study from Sweden will help you make better choices.
Climate change is the largest threat to ocean life
New research shows that local populations of ocean animals are more vulnerable to global warming-induced extinction than terrestrial animals.
Articles to help you eat more sustainably:
An Overview of Shrimp and its Sustainability in 2024
Everything you’d want to know about shrimp sustainability in 2024. Wild-caught, farmed, what to buy at the grocery store and whats coming.
Bluefin Tuna in 2024 – is it time to change our perspective?
Bluefin tuna have recovered strongly from overfishing. When can we consider them sustainable to eat?
Eating Plants & Seafood
Conscious eating can and should include several different kinds of food. A plant-based diet has lower impact relative to a standard diet that includes lots of animal protein, but a diet that includes fish can have as low, or even lower impact.
The future of food from the sea, explained
In 2050, Earth will need a lot more food to feed 2 billion more people. A landmark study calculates how much the ocean can supply sustainably.
Buying Sustainable Seafood: A new shopping guide for the grocery store
Read our guide to confidently buy sustainable seafood at your local grocery store without pulling out your phone to look something up.
Popular stories:
Eating Plants & Seafood
Conscious eating can and should include several different kinds of food. A plant-based diet has lower impact relative to a standard diet that includes lots of animal protein, but a diet that includes fish can have as low, or even lower impact.
Fish populations around the world are improving
A cornerstone paper assembling data from around the world shows that fish populations, representing half of seafood, are improving. Fishery management works.
Ocean Optimism?
New research says we have the policy blueprints to rebuild marine life by 2050. Decarbonization needs to happen quickly, though.
The future of food from the sea, explained
In 2050, Earth will need a lot more food to feed 2 billion more people. A landmark study calculates how much the ocean can supply sustainably.
From fishery science to fake news: how ocean misinformation evolves
How does fishery science go from hard data to misconstrued, clickbait headlines? The spread of misinformation is troubling.
Ethics, impact, and nutrition: A critical review of plant-based meat
Plant-based meat is all the rage, but it needs a critical review if it is going to realize the benefits touted by its brands.
Ray Hilborn’s thoughts on Seaspiracy
Ray Hilborn comments on the Netflix Original film, Seaspiracy. Dr. Hilborn is a world-renowned fishery scientist and sustainability expert.
The science of Seaspiracy
The new Netflix Original film, Seaspiracy, makes some bold claims. We dive into the science and correct several bits of misinformation.
Impacts of fishing forage fish on the fish that feed on forage fish
How does fishing forage fish affect their predators? Should we catch less to improve predator populations? New research offers some clues.
Retraction of flawed MPA study implicates larger problems in MPA science
A recent retraction in a high-profile journal raises questions about predicting the impacts of marine protected areas.
What kind of MPAs are most effective to reduce bycatch?
A new paper compares bycatch outcomes under contrasting protected area management. How does 30×30 stack up?
Mystery of eastern Bering Sea snow crab solved
A team of scientists figured out what happened to all the Eastern Bering Sea snow crabs–they died. Now, we take you through the why and how.
Ray Hilborn and Max Mossler write a monthly(ish) newsletter with opinions and analysis we don’t always publish publicly.
We’ll also update you on our latest stories and research papers we recommend.
Sign up below:
Following us on social media is also a good idea!
Fact Checking Myths
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about fisheries and seafood. We fact check some common myths below.
What will Fisheries be like in 2048?
No scientist would support the assertion that all fish stocks will be collapsed by 2048. There are threats, however.
How many Fisheries are Overfished?
According to the U.N., 78.7% of fish come from a sustainable fishery. Of all monitored fisheries, 66% are sustainable, while 34% are overfished.
How much U.S. Seafood is Imported?
Misleading seafood deficit statistics have played a central role in Trump’s trade war. 35-38% of seafood consumed in the U.S. is produced domestically.
Latest stories:
Same Goal, Different Path: A Scientific Look at Ocean with David Attenborough
A marine scientist reviews Oceans with David Attenborough, examining the science behind MPAs, bottom trawling, and ocean sustainability.
What is going on in the Falkland Islands squid fishery?
The Falkland Islands government has canceled all fishing activities for Patagonian squid, also called Loligo for the rest of the year. What happened?
Hope in the Water: the best seafood documentary ever?
Hope in the Water did a fantastic job depicting real seafood stories and optimism.
Bluefin Tuna in 2024 – is it time to change our perspective?
Bluefin tuna have recovered strongly from overfishing. When can we consider them sustainable to eat?
Bottom Trawling Sustainability 101
Everything you need to know about the science of bottom trawling and its impacts.
A biodiversity framework for U.S. MPAs must include all threats and solutions
A recently proposed method to evaluate biodiversity protection in U.S. marine waters is severely flawed and will damage U.S. interests if adopted by NOAA.
Lawsuits are not good for seafood sustainability
A recent rise in lawsuits–from both fishing and anti-fishing interests has us both confused and worried.
An Overview of Shrimp and its Sustainability in 2024
Everything you’d want to know about shrimp sustainability in 2024. Wild-caught, farmed, what to buy at the grocery store and whats coming.
Mystery of eastern Bering Sea snow crab solved
A team of scientists figured out what happened to all the Eastern Bering Sea snow crabs–they died. Now, we take you through the why and how.
Keep it Simple: a case for traditional fishery management solutions
When it comes to preventing whale entanglements, the simplest solution is often the most effective: reducing the number of traps in the water.
What is a fish aggregating device and why is there debate about banning them?
Fish aggregating devices (FADs) are floating rafts used to concentrate fish. They are controversial for reasons we discuss in this post.
The state of UK stocks is better than Oceana’s depiction
Scientists are frustrated with Oceana’s latest report on UK stocks.
Third critique of Sala et al. 2021 published by Nature
Yet another critique of the poor science in Sala et al. 2021 – the most covered fisheries research of the last decade.
Is ropeless fishing gear a whale-safe solution for American Lobster?
A deep dive into current and future ropeless gear technology to protect whales from entanglement.
New review shows bottom trawling is sustainable (when well-managed)
Seafood from bottom trawling can have a lower impact than other types of animal protein–especially when it comes from a well-managed fishery.
Ray Hilborn and Max Mossler write a monthly(ish) newsletter with opinions and analysis we don’t always publish publicly.
We’ll also update you on our latest stories and research papers we recommend.
Sign up below:
Following us on social media is also a good idea!
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