Once considered an inexhaustible source of food, our oceans are now in a state of global crisis, brought about by overfishing – the single biggest threat to ocean life. Fishing harder, faster, and more ruthlessly than ever before has pushed the largest living space on Earth to its limit – threatening countless marine habitats and species as well as the livelihoods of coastal communities, and our health and food security. Over the past 50 years many of the ocean’s large fish, such as tuna and cod, have been fished to the point of collapse. Today, more than 75 per cent of the world’s commercial marine stocks are now being fished close to, or beyond their capacity.
WWF is making major efforts to stop bycatch, one of the most destructive fishing practices where millions of fish and other marine creatures caught accidentally are discarded usually dead, dying or damaged. The annual toll of unwanted catch is massive, and the more than 250,000 turtles and 300,000 cetaceans killed each year are just the most obvious casualties.
WWF in Oceania
In the Oceania region – covering New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific islands – WWF has three programmes for delivering sustainable fisheries:
• To ensure that Oceanic fisheries that are or would like to be certified by the Marine Stewardship Council practice the highest standard of sustainable fisheries management.
• To raise seafood consumers’ and retailers’ awareness of the origins of fish products, whether they have been fished sustainably and any associated conservation issues.
• To promote the adoption of ecosystem-based fisheries management.