Consumer Guide to Fishing Methods

Fish is an important part of a healthy diet and global demand for seafood is on the rise. Just today I enjoyed some “sehr gut” smoked salmon endorsed by the European Union’s eco advisory “Öko Test.” “Sehr gut” means very good in German and it also means that the fish I was eating was caught from sustainable stock using a sustainable fishing method.

Fishing is central to the livelihood of 200 million people and one of five people worldwide depend on fish as a primary source of protein. It is no wonder that global marine fish stocks are in jeopardy from overfishing, irresponsible fishing methods and environmental degradation. Legislation has begun to help the oceans recover. Establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), like the one recently created in Hawaii by President Bush, are key aspects in protecting fragile marine ecosystems and reefs systems. However, these MPAs currently cover less than one per cent of the world’s oceans and seas.

Fishing is a consumer driven industry and consumers are responsible for large demand and the race to supply. However, overfishing threatens the food supply to millions of people. Making informed consumer choices will help support sustainable fishing methods. Commercial fishing is carried out through a variety of methods that employ different kinds of gear. Some methods are environmentally sound and some are not. Information here helps discern the good from the bad and the ugly. It can be used to make sound environmental consumer decisions about the fish you eat.

There are several factors to consider when determining the sustainability of a fishing method. These include the status of the species population, the extent of bycatch and the impact that the fishing method has on habitats, ecosystems and human communities. There are several different types of fishing methods worldwide. These include dredging, gillnetting, harpooning, hook and lining, longlining, purse seining, traps and pots, trawling/dragging and trolling.