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Sustainable Fishing Practices
Sustainable fishing is essential for maintaining a sustainable environment, requiring significant efforts starting from the establishment of laws to educating about sustainable fishing practices. To understand sustainable fishing, we need to explore the different types of fishing, the methods used, and the efforts made to protect marine environments from destruction. We interviewed Hani Sadek, a representative of the International Fishing Organization, the oldest organization in the world dedicated to setting the rules for sports fishing and protecting fish species. Here, we present details about current sustainable fishing activities.
Understanding Different Types of Fishing
When discussing sustainable fishing today, it’s crucial to differentiate between commercial, amateur, and sports fishing. What distinguishes these types, and how can one enjoy fishing while preserving marine resources?
1: Commercial Fishing
Commercial fishing is considered the most detrimental type and is currently on the decline. By 2050, fish stocks in the oceans may not be sufficient to cover the costs of fishing trips. For example, if a fishing trip costs 10,000 Egyptian pounds in fuel and labor, there may not be enough fish to make it profitable, leading to financial losses for fishermen. Thus, this type of fishing is bound to decline over time, making it the most harmful to marine environments. Our efforts focus on minimizing its negative impact.
2: Bottom Trawling
Bottom trawlers, or dredging boats, drag large nets along the sea floor, catching everything in their path, including shells, fish, dolphins, and turtles. This method can cause severe ecological damage, with affected areas taking up to twenty years to recover.
3: Tourist Fishing
Tourist fishing is less harmful to marine environments since it typically involves rod and line fishing. However, the challenge lies in the volume of participants, with thousands of tourist boats compared to commercial vessels. Raising awareness about sustainable practices in tourist fishing is essential.
4: Sports Fishing
Sports fishing uses different tools and lighter lines, providing fairer chances for fish to escape. It is slower, with fishermen catching significantly fewer fish in the same time compared to regular fishing. A key rule is that only one angler can attempt to catch a fish at a time, promoting a principle of conservation: if you aren’t skilled enough to catch it, let it go.
Key Rules of Sports Fishing
Sports fishing has specific regulations designed to protect certain species. It emphasizes not fishing for endangered or rare fish. The concept of “catch and release” is critical; if a prohibited fish is caught, it should be safely returned to the water without harm.
Some protected species include sharks, shellfish, ornamental fish, and parrotfish. Recently, the capture of parrotfish by commercial and amateur fishermen has been noted as a significant threat to marine ecosystems, as parrotfish play a crucial role in maintaining coral reefs.
The Importance of Catch and Release
The absence of a catch-and-release policy endangers marine life. Sports fishermen typically take only one or two fish for personal consumption, while most catches are released back into the water. It is also vital to refrain from catching undersized fish or those below the species’ normal weight range.
Examples of Sustainable Fishing
The organization of this competition reflects a desire to make Dakhla a key player in outdoor sports while respecting the region’s unique ecosystem. By adopting the ‘No Kill’ principle, the fish caught during the events are released back into the water alive, demonstrating a strong commitment to the preservation of marine resources. This ecological aspect is crucial in a context where the conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems is becoming a global issue.
Economic Benefits of Sustainable Fishing
Tourist fishing is a significant economic asset, yielding high returns for countries. The revenue from one sport fishing tourist can equal that of an entire group of regular tourists. Costa Rica’s successful model has dramatically increased their fish stocks and, after several years, recreational fishing tourism now contributes 13% to the national income.
Negative Impacts of Unsustainable Fishing
The worst type of fishing is net fishing, which is indiscriminate and destructive, capturing and killing non-consumable marine creatures like shells, turtles, and rare Napoleon fish. Spearfishing is also prohibited in the Red Sea due to its harmful impact on coral reefs but is allowed in the Mediterranean.
Defining Sustainable Fishing
Sustainable fishing respects and preserves marine ecosystems. Currently, sports fishing aligns most closely with sustainability principles, adhering to rules that ensure enjoyment of the sport while safeguarding marine life for future generations. In many countries, fishing communities are part of the new movement focused on environmental awareness and protection.
