Study shows Pacific Ocean fisheries in danger
A new study on Wednesday from Noumea-based Secretariat of the Pacific Community stated that Pacific island fisheries face collapse in the next 25 years as overfishing, population growth and climate change threaten one of the region's main economic resources. It warned some types of tuna were already being dangerously overexploited and the problem would spread to other species as foreign fleets clamoured for access to rich fishing grounds amid a global fall in fish stocks.
"There is a dangerous misconception that these resources will always be there but this is not true," the report said. "If changes are not made now, the road ahead could be a bleak one. Attempts to mitigate the effects of climate change at the fisheries level are likely to be futile," it said. "Adaptation to changes will be the key to maintaining the flow of benefits from fisheries."
The study said coral fisheries were particularly vulnerable to climate change, which not only affected fish stocks but also threatened the coral reefs that were a major tourist drawcard for many Pacific island nations. In addition, it predicted growing populations in island nations, set to rise by 50% to 15 million by 2035, would fuel demand for fish, increasing the risk of unsustainable practices.
The report said avoiding a worst-case scenario would involve managing fish stocks more scientifically and increasing regional cooperation to ensure the oceans were harvested in a sustainable manner. It also called for more effective policing to curb illegal fishing, a phased reduction of foreign fishing vessels and the introduction of long-term planning in consultation of local fishing communities.
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