An environment group’s target of shutting off 30% of the world’s oceans to fishing by 2030 has sparked outrage from an industry body.
Europeche, whose members include the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, said the goal set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was misguided.
IUCN’s members meet every four years for its World Conservation Congress to recommend environmental and conservation priorities for future years.
At the most recent congress, held in Hawaii earlier this month, it was decided to advise governments and other relevant international bodies – such as the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation and the European Union – to set a 30% closure target globally.
Europeche said the move would have devastating impact socioeconomic impacts on coastal communities and food security.
Javier Garat, the group’s president, added: “No-take zones, or marine reserves, have become, in the eyes of many scientists, NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and lay-people, a solution for the overexploitation of fish populations.
“However, before we close off any area to extractive activities such as fishing we must first ask ourselves what are we protecting and why.
“Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a tool, not an objective, so in order for these closures to be successful their existence has to be justified.
“Fish populations do not respect boundaries and closing off an area to fishing will only displace vessels to neighbouring areas, with unintended consequences on management.”
Mr Garat said MPAs may seem like an attractive, quick-fix, but the IUCN recommendation would threaten many livelihoods and local communities.
“The decision taken by the IUCN is not based on any broad consensus of the scientific community,” he said, adding: “It disregards the unpleasant fact that a large proportion of MPAs already established are paper parks, with zero efficiency in meeting their objectives.
European Association of Fish Producers’ Organisations president Pim Visser said: “This is a typical broad brush approach which will lead to unworkable situations in coastal areas and estuaries.
“Imagine the 30% criterion for instance being applied to the Irish Sea, North Sea and the Baltic; areas also destined to produce large amounts of renewable-energy.
“A 30% closure will erase all fishing activities in these areas and negatively affect fishermen, their families and their communities”.
SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong added: “Rather than pick arbitrary figures out of the air that close areas to fishing, it is much better to focus on intelligent management that enables sustainable harvesting, whilst at the same time protecting our marine environment.”
