Our waters are significantly overfished. In the last fifty years alone, the number of overfished stocks around the world has tripled, leaving one-third of all global fish stocks overfished. This leaves fisheries, and those communities who rely on seafood as a primary food source, at high risk for climate-related tragedies such as natural disasters and warming waters, which can make seafood and fish capture scarcer. To help remedy this risk, fisheries need to be more sustainable and resilient to our changing climate by making marked improvements to their current practices.¹“Plenty of Fish?” U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change ≫ 

By using science to determine the best methods of fishing which allow stocks to regenerate naturally, and by reducing fisheries’ environmental influence by transitioning to clean energy and eliminating plastic usage, fishers and fisheries around the world have a much better chance of addressing food demand and doing so in a way that not only makes a greater profit, but which reduces environmental impact overall.

On-the-ground programing to create and apply new fisheries management, universal guidelines, and wildlife and water protections need more funding. Projects and nonprofit organizations are creating new and innovative solutions that need to be prioritized at local and national levels. The discoveries and changes brought on by these orgs and others like them are only the beginning of the work required for a widespread transition to sustainable fishing and fisheries that our oceans desperately need.

Many small, privately-owned artisanal fisheries will need additional financial support to learn about and implement sustainable fishing practices. And while this is certainly possible, it will need investment from municipal and state governments as well as public and private donors.

Much like with sustainable agriculture, a sustainable future in fishing must include clean energy and less plastic. Ihe industry needs to incorporate the leadership and expertise of Indigenous communities and other generational fishers whose knowledge of traditional, sustainable techniques uniquely positions them to offer guidance on the implementation of these practices at a larger scale.

For smaller, independent fishers who do not have the same capacity as commercial fishing enterprises, knowledge sharing is going to be a critical component of expanding new and sustainable techniques. Support and funding are needed to help build and expand these networks to be as diverse and inclusive as possible.

To date, the most significant piece of U.S. legislation related to fisheries and how they’re managed is the 1976 Fishery Conservation Management Act. Since its creation, it has gone through two rounds of major revisions—one in 1996 and another in 2006—and has become the standard blueprint for sustainable fishing today.²“America’s Blueprint for Sustainable Fisheries,” Center for American Progress ≫

While these updates to the act are highly valuable and set precedents for today’s fishing activities, it doesn’t mean the hard work is over. Making sure the act is kept up-to-date and relevant to today’s most important sustainability needs is crucial and will require support from legislators and the public alike.

As children, we’re taught that “sharing is caring,” and it’s true—but not just from a toy standpoint. We share our oceans, our lands, and our air. So, when it comes to helpful solutions that can make these collective resources better, it’s important we share those too.

Educate yourself on sustainably sourced fish and seafood, look for the sustainable label, and teach others how to do the same. Encourage your favorite local restaurants to purchase sustainably sourced seafood whenever possible and seek out eateries in your area that already do.³“Teach and learn about ocean sustainability,” Marine Stewardship Council ≫; “Food Label Guide: Seafood,” Foodprint ≫

Whether you live on the coast in a landlocked state, learn about where the seafood in your state comes from and what regulations exist (if any) to promote sustainable aquatic goods. Reach out to local and state representatives and encourage them to adopt guidelines for the import of sustainable fish and/or the use of sustainable fishing practices.

Connect with local to international nonprofits working to ensure sustainable fisheries. If you like the work they’re doing and want to help, donate! Your monetary support is essential. Even a few dollars can make a significant difference.

The truth is environmental organizations receive less than 3% of all philanthropy in the United States—despite the fact that our planet’s health directly impacts the health and wellness of all of us. This number is particularly alarming when you consider the rate at which our oceans are warming and the billions of people around the world who rely on fish as their primary source of protein.

The fact that you’re reading this right now means you’re off to a great start learning about all things sustainable fishing. Congratulations, and thank you! Taking time to learn about our planet and the role fishing and our waters play prepares you with the knowledge you need to make more informed, environmentally conscious decisions every day.

Including how and where you buy your seafood. Have you heard the phrase, “vote with your wallet”? Well, it’s a real thing, and it has a much greater impact than you might realize. If you buy and/or consume fish, make sure you’re following guides (like this one for salmon) for purchasing the most sustainable species from sustainable fishers, and so that you understand how the fish you’re buying are caught in the first place. (For other species guides, check out the Seafood Watch library.)

Share this with others in your life to equip them with knowledge and help us achieve our goal of widespread support for sustainable fishing. Then, tag us on socials to let us know your favorite fact you’ve learned about fisheries and our oceans!

Voting is an extremely important resource when it comes to the environment. How we’re able to move forward with sustainable initiatives depends a lot on the willingness of people to vote for legislators and, by extension, pieces of legislation that will change how our country approaches sustainable fishing and fisheries as well as ocean conservation and restoration.

Your vote absolutely matters. While we recognize that the opposite can so often feel true in today’s political climate, the truth is, we need people voicing their opinion (and their vote) for the climate now more than ever. The changing tide of public opinion very often comes through voting outcomes. Even a percent change can make all the difference.

Know what environmental initiatives are coming up on your ballot and the environmental stance of your prospective candidates.

A marine protected area (MPA for short) is a nationally and/or internationally recognized geographical area of protected waters for the purpose of conservation. The purpose of an MPA is to place limits on human activity within that area—whether that’s fishing, boating, or even swimming—to reduce the harm done to essential marine ecosystems. National and state parks, as well as marine sanctuaries, are examples of MPA programs. And while having protected marine waters is certainly important, it can only be successful when these MPAs are properly managed and have consistent oversight and rule enforcement; something that many MPAs are missing today.⁴“Marine Protected Areas,” Protected Planet ≫

A capture fishery is one in which fish and other seafood are harvested (a.k.a. “fished” or “captured”) from the wild.

This can happen in both marine or freshwaters and can also include other naturally occurring organisms, like seaweed, which are also collected for human use and consumption.  

How we spend our money matters, and that includes where and from whom we’re buying our seafood. Informed consumers are those who know where their food is coming from. How can you get started? Purchasing fish certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)—look for the blue logo—is one way buyers can be sure they are supporting sustainably sourced seafood. Likewise, check with your favorite local restaurants to see how they’re sourcing the seafood they serve.

When you quite literally put your money where your mouth is—even if you start small with one or two sustainable swaps a week—it can make a difference. Change adds up!

However, to make a significant change, this is a widespread shift that needs to be supported by consumers at large, so it’s critical that everyone reading this makes a concerted effort to make sustainable swaps and purchases whenever and wherever possible.

Forty-four percent of the global population lives within 93 miles of the ocean. These coastal and fishing communities are at the frontlines of both environmental harms and the positive changes that stem from activating sustainable solutions. As a result, they are in a unique and powerful position to not only implement change but be the voice for what changes are truly working.⁵“Doubling Ocean Protection,” Conservation International ≫

Community education and partnerships with environmental science and restoration groups will help build a foundation that sets these local communities up for success. How can this be achieved? By partnering with organizations that specialize in sustainable fishing and management and developing workshops, a network of consultants, as well as local, regional, national, and international networking support for independent fishers who may not have the funding and capacity to otherwise connect with other fishers and learn about sustainable practices.⁶“Coastal Fisheries Initiative: Teaching communities to fish sustainably,” Global Environment Facility ≫; “Mariculture in Southeast Alaska,” Ecotrust ≫

Recreational fishing restrictions and other local legislation will also be critical to protect key fisheries and bodies of water where, currently, overfishing and a lack of guidelines is greatly impacting fish stocks and ecosystem health.

To increase the number of sustainable fisheries, we need to increase the demand for sustainable fish and improve the seafood supply chain to significantly reduce fossil fuel usage and harm to our global waters. Restaurants and the food industry play a critical role in this. Restaurants and food manufacturers can choose to source their fish and seafood from sustainable fishers and fisheries, sourcing from local sustainable vendors whenever possible.⁷“Improve Your Sourcing,” World Wildlife Fund ≫

After all, independent research shows that 72% of seafood consumers across 21 countries agree that seafood needs to come from sustainable sources, and 54% said they are prepared to pay more for sustainable seafood.⁸“Seafood consumers put sustainability before price and brand,” Marine Stewardship Council ≫

Reducing plastic usage and transitioning to clean energy for food transport and manufacturing are also key changes within our food systems that will have a significant influence on not only our fish and oceans, but on our planet’s health as a whole.

Check out World Wildlife Fund’s extensive resource library to learn more about sustainable seafood.

Artisanal fishers, or career fishers who run smaller, private fishing operations across the globe, are already a step ahead when it comes to sustainability. Many artisanal fishers are already using sustainable fishing practices, such as limiting what fish species are caught to certain times of the year, giving them plenty of time to replenish.

What makes artisanal fishers such a driving force when it comes to sustainable fishing is that 90% of the global fishing industry is made up of artisanal fishers, and 66% of all seafood catches specifically for human consumption come from them. The problem stems largely from the fact that many of these fishers are local and do not have the resources or capacity to network far beyond their region to learn more about sustainable fishing practices and how these can further benefit the work they do and the communities that rely on them.

Subject-expert organizations need to partner with artisanal career fishers and other industry professionals to increase outreach, education, programming, and funding for further sustainable changes. Building a network of career fishers and environmental experts interested in helping to innovate and support one another will not only build resilient fisheries, but resilient communities across the globe.

Fishing on the mass scale that we see today involves removing huge quantities of our fish from their fresh and marine water ecosystems, but it also does significantly more harm. Other problematic practices like bottom trawling and ghost fishing largely impact the wildlife left behind, causing the further destruction of animal habitats and deaths.

• Bottom trawling is the process of dragging a net across the bed or “floor” of a body of water in order to capture fish and other aquatic life (driven by short-term financial gain for the fisher). Unfortunately, this practice greatly disturbs the existing habitat and has been shown to decrease the impacted area’s biodiversity by up to 50%.⁹“To Trawl or Not to Trawl,” Environmental Defense Fund ≫
• Ghost fishing takes place when nets, wire, and other fishing equipment is abandoned in a body of water, trapping and/or entangling wildlife until they die of exhaustion, suffocation, or starvation. It’s one of the worst forms of physical aquatic pollution and accounts for roughly 10% of all marine litter.¹⁰“The Harms of Derelict Fishing Gear,” Surfrider Foundation ≫

To make large-scale changes toward sustainable fishing, we need to have a large-scale approach—and that starts with governmental bodies. Alterations to subsidy programs, regulation of fish stocks, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and new harvesting policies are all ways in which governments at all levels (local, tribal, territorial, state, and federal) can take a stance and forge a path toward real environmental and social progress.

• SUBSIDIES | Currently, subsidies to commercial fishing companies amount to billions annually. Today, about $22 billion of the $35 billion subsidy payment to fisheries are harmful in some way, going to large, economically-advantaged industrial operations that overfish. Governments at all levels reconsider these subsidies, offering funds to those advancing sustainable practices and removing subsidies from moving toward an industry transition.¹²“Ask Dr. Pauly: Why are we giving subsidies to the fishing industry?” Oceana ≫

Since the Industrial Revolution began around 1750, carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in our atmosphere have risen considerably. Like heat, our ocean absorbs a large amount of this CO₂, increasing the pH levels of surface-level seawater (a.k.a. ocean acidification). While generally harmful to all marine life, this acidification is particularly damaging for shellfish and corals as it interferes with their ability to build their shells and skeletons.

Commercial fishing is the practice of catching fresh and marine water fish and other sea life for profit, conducted by commercial fishing boats. It’s a big $150 billion-a-year industry and the most widely distributed ocean-based activity worldwide. It significantly supports global food security as more than 3 billion people rely on seafood as a major form of protein.¹⁴“Commercial Fishing,” Global Fishing Watch ≫

Unfortunately, with an industry this large—one that still relies on fossil fuels and unsustainable fishing practices—commercial fishing leaves a substantial footprint. Half of all global fish stocks are overfished, leading many to collapse as they’re unable to replenish fish populations.¹⁵“Global Fishing Index,” Minderoo Foundation ≫

Commercial fishing relies significantly on fossil fuels, producing more annual carbon emissions (about 1 gigaton, or 2.2 trillion pounds) than the entire aviation industry (about 800 metric tons, or 1.8 million pounds). Notably, fishing corporations have worked alongside oil lobbyists to prevent the installation of offshore wind farms. (Although, this too is a nuanced conversation as many wind farms are located in ecologically sensitive waters with robust fisheries.)¹⁶“How Industrial Fishing Creates More CO₂ Emissions Than Air Travel,” Time Magazine ≫; “U.S. fishing industry teams up with oil lobby to fight offshore wind,” Reuters ≫

The markers that help identify a balanced aquatic ecosystem are the same as those that apply to terrestrial ecosystems: biodiversity, stable plant and wildlife populations, and clean and intact habitats. Healthy ecosystems rely on balance—a balance between plants and wildlife, as well as a balance between what humans capture and what the ecosystem naturally provides.¹⁸“The survival of marine fauna depends on sustainable fishing,” Iberdrola ≫

When talking about an “ecosystem-based approach” to restoring and conserving healthy waters, this means ensuring a balanced aquatic ecosystem by identifying those factors that are causing damage and remedying them in a way that does not harm or alter the natural environmental systems in place.

The human benefits of a balanced aquatic ecosystem? Endless. But just to name a few, healthy fish populations mean improved food security, increased profits for fishers, and quality of life improvements for communities who rely on seafood and/or the fishing industry for survival.

The term “fishery” has multiple uses, though the two most common interpretations are as follows:

• A place (geographical region) where fish or seafood are collected, typically for sale and/or consumption
• The business (industry/occupation) of catching fish and other seafood for sale and/or consumption

A fishery can be both the operation and the location of catching fish for recreational and commercial purposes alike and are often named for their target species (such as, a “Chinook fishery”¹⁹“Chinook Salmon,” NOAA Fisheries ≫). How the word is defined will depend largely on the context in which it’s being used. For example: “Artisanal fishing employs 90% of the captured fisheries workforce worldwide.” In this case, fisheries is being used in reference to the business or industry.

Similar to the overarching term of “agriculture” to refer to all activities involving the growth of crops and raising of livestock, aquaculture is the production and/or raising of aquatic organisms. This includes everything from growing and harvesting seaweed to breeding and raising fish or shellfish. Like agriculture, aquaculture is a method for producing food—only, it just so happens to be underwater. Aquaculture enhances fishery stocks when wild stocks are low and helps restore essential habitats, such as oyster reef restoration and outplanting. However, it’s important to remember that this work is not the same as restoring healthy wild stocks.²⁰“Farmed Seafood,” World Wildlife Fund ≫

Today, aquaculture farms produce more than 50% of the fish and seafood used for human consumption. Unfortunately, these farms often pose hazards to surrounding natural ecosystems, including abundant antibiotic use and practices like open-net pens.²¹“Aquaculture,” NOAA Fisheries ≫; “Antibiotics in seafood farming,” Aquaculture Stewardship Council ≫

An EcoDistrict is a neighborhood or urban area where sustainable development, smart infrastructure, and social inclusivity come together to better the lives of residents and reduce the ecological footprint of the associated district. This includes making sustainability improvements to nearly all infrastructure; energy, water, waste, and transportation.

Some EcoDistricts may also have other focus areas. For example, Lloyd EcoDistrict has four major programs: pollinator placemaking, path to decarbonization, residential resiliency, and climate adaptation.²³“Our Programs and Projects,” Lloyd EcoDistrict ≫

Urban sprawl, or the spread of low-density urban development, has been steadily on the rise for decades—increasing human reliance on cars and needing utilities to reach farther. Today, scientists are finding that stopping the sprawl and, instead, focusing on more condensed development (where streets are connected, public transportation is an option, and cars aren’t required for travel) result in up to a 10% decrease in transportation-related CO₂ released.²⁴“Rapid rise in urban sprawl: Global hotspots and trends since 1990,” PLOS Sustainability and Transformation ≫; “Urban sprawl defines unsustainable cities, but it can be undone,” Popular Science ≫

Multi-family, housing dense areas with access to public transit are critical to reducing the overall carbon footprint of these neighborhoods. They should be safe to walk and bike to promote modes of transportation that do not require fossil fuel usage.

Regenerative agriculture is the practice of enriching the land through farming and other agricultural practices; an effort that has been led by Indigenous Communities for thousands of years. Rather than stripping the ground of its nutrients, regenerative practices add to the health and strength of the soil and the overall ecosystem. In essence, it’s a decolonization of agriculture. ²⁶“Regenerative Agriculture 101,” Natural Resources Defense Council ≫; “Native Growers Decolonize Regenerative Agriculture,” Green America ≫

Regenerative agriculture, as noted by One Earth, is “a pathway to an abundant and resilient future . . . shifting from the narrative of human dominion to one of healing our relationship with the Earth.” As a result, farms become more resistant to climate-related threats such as drought, flooding, and extreme shifts in temperature.²⁷“Regenerative Agriculture and Food Systems,” One Earth ≫