Sustainability

In the upcoming 13th Ministerial Conference (MC) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), scheduled from February 26th to 29th, 2024, India is set to reinforce its commitment to champion the fishing interests of less-developed nations. Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries, emphasized India’s recognition of its broader global responsibilities in the field.

This follows the outcomes of the WTO MC-12 held in June 2022, where pivotal agreements were reached to address the challenges of unreported and unregulated fishing on a global scale. The MC-12 decisions included the implementation of stringent controls on overfished areas, aiming for the restoration of fish stocks. Notably, it was agreed that subsidies for fishing beyond Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) or Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) would be discontinued.

Building on these commitments, India aims to underscore its dedication to the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies during the upcoming MC-13. The Agreement, established at the WTO Ministerial meeting, explicitly prohibits subsidies for Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and overfished stocks. A crucial aspect of the agreement is the provision of a two-year transition period for Developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) from the agreement’s entry into force.

The Agreement permits subsidies for fishing activities related to overfished stocks, but with the condition that they contribute to rebuilding the stock to a biologically sustainable level. However, IUU fishing vessels or operators are slated to face a comprehensive subsidy ban, signaling a robust stance against unsustainable fishing practices.

India’s proactive stance on fisheries sustainability aligns with the global community’s efforts to create a more responsible and ecologically sound approach to fishing practices. The conference in Abu Dhabi is anticipated to provide a platform for collaborative efforts towards achieving a more sustainable and equitable global fishing industry.

Source: CNBC-TV18

The Odisha government has initiated a seven-month-long prohibition on sea fishing within a 20 km radius of the Kendrapara coast, where Olive Ridley turtles come ashore to nest and lay eggs. This annual measure, effective from November 1 to May 31, aims to safeguard marine animals, particularly Olive Ridley turtles, during their crucial mating and breeding season.

The designated areas under restriction include the sea surrounding the mouths of rivers Dhamara, Devi, and Rusikulya. The decision is in accordance with the provisions of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982, and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The prohibition is crucial to prevent the turtles from perishing in fishing nets or being harmed by the propellers of fishing trawlers.

To enforce the prohibition effectively, a comprehensive patrolling exercise has been established, involving forest, fisheries, and marine police, along with Coast Guard personnel. Sixty-one on-shore camps and five off-shore camps have been set up across the state’s wildlife divisions, and armed police constabulary forces will accompany the patrolling teams. Additionally, five high-speed boats, 13 trawlers, and support boats are deployed to intercept illegal marine fishing activities in prohibited zones.

While the prohibition is a crucial conservation effort, it will impact more than 10,600 fishermen families. To address this, the state government has decided to provide one-time livelihood assistance of Rs 15,500 to each affected fishermen family.

Notably, Gahirmatha coast, acclaimed as the largest Olive Ridley turtle habitation corridor, already enforces a year-round blanket ban on sea fishing. Designated as a marine sanctuary due to the congregation of Olive Ridley turtles, Gahirmatha coast witnesses the rare natural phenomenon of ‘Arribada,’ where female turtles invade nesting beaches to lay eggs, contributing to the conservation of this endangered species.

JAKARTA: The Indonesian government is contemplating the extension of an international treaty to combat illegal fishing at additional ports nationwide. As the world’s largest archipelagic country and a leading seafood producer, Indonesia is a signatory to the 2009 Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), aimed at curbing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by restricting vessels engaged in such practices from accessing ports.

Despite its significant maritime position and the existence of 2,459 ports, Indonesia has currently implemented the PSMA at only four ports—far fewer than Thailand’s 26. The four Indonesian ports include the Samudra fisheries ports in Muara Baru, Jakarta, Bitung in North Sulawesi, Bungus in West Sumatra, and the commercial port of Benoa in Bali.

Tri Aris Wibowo, the fisheries port director at the fisheries ministry, expressed the need for increased implementation, stating, “We should be having more.” He emphasized the importance of partnerships between the fisheries ministry and public ports, underlining the necessity of a legal framework to apply PSMA principles to fishing vessels at these ports.

With the objective of enhancing transparency and traceability, Indonesia aims to increase global trust in its fish products. Tri Aris Wibowo noted that international acceptance involves not only considerations of fish health but also the traceability of the source, legality, and eco-friendliness of the fishing practices.

Indonesia’s move aligns with efforts to address the challenges of overfishing and ensure the sustainability of its fisheries. The PSMA, part of a toolkit for transparency and traceability, is viewed as a crucial mechanism to combat IUU fishing globally.

In a meeting held in Bali in early May, parties to the PSMA, hosted by Indonesia, reached agreements to strengthen efforts against IUU fishing. These measures include utilizing the Global Information Exchange System, a digital platform developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to share information on inspection reports and actions taken against foreign vessels engaged in IUU fishing.

As the world grapples with the need for sustainable fisheries, Indonesia’s potential expansion of the PSMA reflects a commitment to responsible fishing practices and global cooperation in combating illegal activities in the fishing industry.

Washington: The Centre for Biological Diversity has urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to mandate and disclose species-level data for all ornamental fish entering the country for the aquarium trade. In a letter addressed today, the centre emphasizes that maintaining accurate species information in the national database is crucial for implementing conservation measures, particularly for fish facing threats of overexploitation.

A Centre analysis of the Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS) database revealed that over a recent 6-year period, more than 387 million ornamental fish were imported for the U.S. aquarium trade without proper disclosure of species names. The LEMIS database serves as a vital resource for wildlife import and export information, supporting scientific research, conservation efforts, and government initiatives to preserve biodiversity, prevent the spread of pathogens, and ensure animal welfare.

However, millions of LEMIS entries for ornamental fish lack specific species names, often identifying them merely as “tropical fish,” “marine,” or “freshwater.”

Dianne DuBois, a scientist at the Centre for Biological Diversity, emphasized the need for more comprehensive data to address conservation challenges. “Some fish targeted by the aquarium trade are highly imperilled, and we can’t protect these species if we don’t even know how many are coming into the country. The government needs to require a species name for every individual specimen, or traders shouldn’t be allowed to bring them in.”

With approximately 2 billion live ornamental fish traded globally each year, the United States holds the distinction of being the world’s largest consumer of ornamental fish. Some species have faced extinction or population decline due in part to trade. However, without accurate and complete data, assessing the full extent of the harm caused by the U.S. trade to a species remains challenging.

Species-level identification is crucial for informed conservation measures, especially for species like Betta cracens, a critically endangered betta fish found only in a single freshwater swamp forest in Sumatra, Indonesia. Despite its critical status, Betta cracens is available for sale in the United States, and the lack of data makes it unclear how many are being imported annually.

Dianne DuBois expressed concern that U.S. consumers may unknowingly contribute to the extinction crisis by acquiring highly imperilled fish for their home tanks. Without accurate information, addressing the United States’ role in the extinction crisis becomes an uphill challenge.

Some aquarium fish species are listed domestically under the Endangered Species Act and internationally under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Accurate species names are essential to ensuring the legality of trade under these regulations. The LEMIS database, developed in part to meet reporting and conservation requirements of wildlife laws, faces limitations in achieving these objectives without species-specific information.

Hubballi: Concerns have heightened among fishermen in Kasarkod Tonka, Honnavar taluk, Uttara Kannada district, as the Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Authority (KSCZMA)-approved Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) granted permission to pave a 2.1 km rough road adjacent to the nesting grounds of the critically endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle. The approval comes in the context of developing connectivity for a proposed private port in the village.

Despite objections from subject experts during the virtual 43rd meeting, the 10-member committee, consisting of seven government officials and three subject experts, gave the green light to the project within the notified port limits, where the No Development Zone (NDZ) rule, according to the CRZ notification of 2011, does not apply.

The KSCZMA rejected a proposal for a four-lane road connecting the port to National Highway 66, citing its passage through the CRZ-1A area. Marine biologist and activist Prakash Mesta expressed concern, pointing to the asphalt work on the rough road as an indication that port construction is imminent.

Mesta criticized the company for exploiting loopholes to secure an extension of environmental clearance (EC), despite the National Green Tribunal’s directive for a new EC. He questioned the need for a new port when existing ones operate well below capacity within a 200 km range.

Local fishermen have been legally contesting the establishment of a private port by Honnavar Port Private Limited, fearing adverse effects on ecologically sensitive areas like Sharavathi estuaries and Kasakod beach, crucial for Olive Ridley sea turtles. Scientist M D Subash Chandra, a KSCZMA member, highlighted objections from experts, emphasizing potential damage to ecologically sensitive zones.

KSCZMA Member Secretary R Gokul defended the decision, stating that the private company obtained all necessary permissions in 2012 for the port project. He cautioned against denying permission for the asphalted road, citing potential arbitration and significant financial repercussions for the government.

The controversy underscores the delicate balance between development and environmental conservation, particularly in regions crucial for the preservation of endangered species.

An angler in Balik Pulau, Penang, successfully reeled in a cusk eel, a species typically found at much greater depths beneath the ocean’s surface. Marine researchers are speculating that undersea earthquakes might have prompted these deep-sea fish to ascend to shallower waters, offering a rare opportunity for such an unusual catch.

Mohamad Hafiz Mohd Ariffin, a 37-year-old fisherman, made the remarkable catch at a depth of 42 meters, 16 nautical miles southwest of Penang island, using only a rod and line. The unexpected appearance of the cusk eel has intrigued ichthyologists, prompting efforts to convince the fisherman to contribute the specimen to science for preservation in the fish collection at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Describing his find, Mohamad Hafiz said, “I’ve been a fisherman for 18 years, and I have never seen such a fish.” The 30cm-long fish was caught during a routine fishing expedition, and its distinct features left both the angler and fellow fishermen puzzled.

Dr. Khaironizam Md Zain, an ichthyologist at USM, expressed his surprise at the catch, noting that cusk eels are typically deep-sea dwellers, with most members concentrated in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific regions. He speculates that the species might have a distribution in the Indo-Pacific region, and the unusual migration to shallower waters could be linked to seismic activity in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific region.

While there is a longstanding belief, particularly in Japan, that the presence of deep-sea fish near the surface signals impending earthquakes, a 2019 comparative analysis of over 300 deep-sea fish sightings and earthquakes in Japan from 1928 to 2011 found no conclusive correlation. The scientific community remains intrigued by this rare catch, hoping it may provide valuable insights into the behaviour of deep-sea species and their responses to undersea events.

Thailand’s new government is poised to roll back eight years of progress in the fisheries sector, promising to “unlock” the industry by reducing regulation and transparency around vessels’ activities. The move has sparked significant opposition from civil society organizations (CSOs), with 90 NGOs, including Oceana, Greenpeace, and Conservation International, signing a statement urging Prime Minister Mr. Srettha Thavisin to intervene and prevent the erosion of critical regulations.

The U.S. Department of State and the European Commission took actions against Thai vessel operators in 2014 and 2015, leading to a decline in Thailand’s seafood exports ranking from third in the world in 2012 to 13th in 2021. The regulations put in place in response to these actions aimed at defending human rights and the environment are now at risk.

Historical reports from 2009 to 2014 revealed appalling working conditions for fishers, including the absence of contracts for almost all, with 80% reporting never feeling free. Disturbingly, a UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking in 2009 found that nearly 60% of crew members had witnessed executions at sea. The rollback on accountability and transparency poses a real threat to the progress made.

Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), which has extensively investigated illegal fishing and human rights abuses by Thai fishing vessels, emphasized the link between looser regulations and both environmental destruction and workers’ rights abuses. Efforts to regulate the industry have contributed to the recovery of fish populations and improved working conditions, turning Thailand into a regional leader.

The joint statement from CSOs urges Prime Minister Thavisin to strengthen existing illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing directives and transparency mechanisms. It specifically calls attention to proposals from the National Fishing Association of Thailand that include returning to day-rate fisher salaries, permitting child labour, and weakening measures against IUU fishing. Adopting these recommendations could harm Thailand’s international reputation in the global seafood market.

The potential deregulation could impact artisanal Thai fishers, who have already faced challenges from the proliferation of commercial fishers close to the shore. Efforts to decommission commercial vessels and revoke licenses linked to illegal fishing have resulted in a significant reduction in the commercial fleet since 2016.

The fear is that a return to pre-reform conditions or worse could decimate fish populations, jeopardize the safety of fisheries workers, and threaten international seafood trade revenues for Thailand. The consensus among CSOs is that the industry’s survival depends on greater regulation and transparency, not on dismantling the hard-won progress achieved in recent years.

Source: Mongabay

Tesco, a major British retailer, is stepping up its sustainability game by teaming up with Keep Sea Blue to introduce a groundbreaking initiative in its fresh fish packaging. Beginning next week, select fresh salmon, haddock, cod, and sea bass products will be presented in trays crafted with at least 30% recycled coastal plastic. This innovative approach aims to repurpose discarded plastic collected from beaches and coastlines surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

The strategic collaboration with Keep Sea Blue, a non-profit organization focusing on plastic waste management, is set to prevent approximately 500 metric tonnes of plastic from entering the environment annually. The plastic materials, including Polypropylene, PET, Polyethylene, among others, are sourced from at-risk coastal areas, such as beaches and communities within 10 km from the sea. By intercepting this plastic before it reaches the Mediterranean Sea, Tesco aims to contribute significantly to curbing ocean plastic pollution.

The entire process, from collection to processing, is executed with meticulous transparency and traceability, certified by Keep Sea Blue. Volunteer groups engaged in beach clean-ups, local authorities, non-profits, and private sector entities collaborate to recover the plastic. The PET component of the waste undergoes careful sorting, grinding, washing, and recycling to transform it into food-grade packaging materials.

Tesco’s commitment to sustainability is further emphasized by the use of its customized Blockchain Platform, powered by Oracle Blockchain technology. This platform ensures the monitoring and certification of plastic circularity, guaranteeing full traceability of materials involved in the packaging.

Sarah Bradbury, Tesco Quality Director, expressed the company’s dedication to minimizing new plastic usage, stating, “Re-using coastal plastic in our fish packaging is one way we can do that and at the same time keep it out of the oceans.”

Lefteris Bastakis, Founder of Keep Sea Blue, applauded Tesco’s proactive contribution, emphasizing the collective effort required to combat mismanaged plastic waste. This initiative aligns with Tesco’s broader sustainability goals, emphasizing environmental responsibility and a commitment to a more sustainable future.

The construction of barrages and dams on rivers in India has posed a threat to the hilsa, a migrating fish crucial to the country’s fisheries. To address this issue, the Clean Ganga Mission has initiated efforts to conserve and increase the hilsa population. Strategies include releasing juvenile hilsa and their eggs upstream of the Ganga river and providing incentives for tagging hilsas to gather information about their sightings.

Despite being the second-largest producer of hilsa globally, India only contributes 10% compared to Bangladesh’s 80%. The collaborative conservation efforts of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar are deemed essential by experts to ensure the hilsa’s preservation.

The Farakka Barrage in West Bengal has obstructed hilsa migration since its construction in 1975, leading to a significant decline in their numbers in India. The Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) has taken steps under the National Mission for Clean Ganga to increase hilsa numbers, including releasing juvenile hilsas and fertilized eggs into upstream areas.

While the cost of hilsa is high due to its demand and health benefits, pollution, overfishing, and obstruction by dams are identified as major threats to the hilsa population. The CIFRI has conducted awareness programs to educate fisherfolk about hilsa conservation and implemented measures such as fishing bans during breeding seasons.

The West Bengal government has declared some river stretches as sanctuaries to protect hilsas. However, fisherfolk organizations express dissatisfaction, claiming inadequate government initiatives. Pollution is acknowledged as a contributing factor to stress among aquatic organisms, including fish.

Joint efforts among India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar are suggested for effective hilsa conservation, considering its transboundary nature. The high demand for hilsa in India has led to dependency on Bangladesh for supply, with the countries sharing amicable relations.

Bangladesh employs strategic measures for hilsa conservation, including the establishment of sanctuaries for juvenile hilsas, protection of breeding sites, seasonal fishing bans, and subsidies for the fishing community during breeding and nursing periods. As India strives to secure its hilsa population, collaborative efforts with neighboring countries become imperative for the sustainable preservation of this essential fish species.

The World Bank has released a report outlining the lessons learned from a technical assistance project advocating the use of marine spatial planning to enhance fisheries conservation and management in Morocco,. This approach involves collaborative decision-making from government bodies to private sector entities and artisanal fishers right from the planning stages. The goal is to ensure that governance decisions are well-informed by current, relevant, and easily accessible data, often represented on maps, facilitating better decision-making for fisheries and livelihoods.

The report, titled “Pioneering Marine Spatial Planning in Morocco: An Opportunity to Articulate Conservation and Development,” serves as a practical demonstration of marine spatial planning in action. The focus is on supporting Morocco’s government in identifying a suitable location for a proposed new marine protected area in Agadir along the Atlantic coastline.

Morocco’s commitment to leading a multisectoral approach is integral to the success of the marine spatial planning process. The active involvement of various stakeholders, including artisanal fishers crucial to the region’s fishing activities, is a key aspect of the government’s strategy.

For the proposed marine protected area in Agadir, a technical advisory team conducted a comprehensive diagnostic analysis, integrating biological, environmental, and economic data. Utilizing a geographic information system (GIS), this data was visually represented in layers on a digitalized map. By adjusting parameters on the map based on stakeholder priorities, the government aims to identify a shortlist of potential marine protected areas. Stakeholders will then collectively choose the most suitable site that aligns with their fishing livelihoods and economic objectives.

The World Bank’s technical assistance has reignited the Government of Morocco’s interest in marine spatial planning as a context-sensitive tool for co-managing natural resources. The report not only highlights the success of the Agadir marine-protected area project but also outlines next steps for Morocco, including a tool to scale up marine spatial planning for future endeavours.