Leading scientists redefine the notion of ‘sustainability’ to save the ocean

A week before Brussels’ Ocean Week and a few months before the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, a group of researchers published the results of an unprecedented scientific effort: they redefine the concept of ‘sustainable fishing’ and propose eleven ‘golden rules’ that radically challenge the flawed notion that currently prevails in fisheries management.

These eleven ‘golden rules’ have been devised to end the ongoing destruction of the oceans caused by fishing, and ensure the renewal of abundant fish populations to feed future generations. They come at a time when scientists have drastically downgraded their assessment of the ocean’s health status, [1] and two-thirds of the world’s coral reefs are exposed to potentially lethal temperatures. [2] These eleven breakthrough actions are intended to be implemented by companies, governments, and legislators.

These rules unfold according to two guiding principles that would revolutionize the way we ‘manage’ the exploitation of the ocean: 1) fishing must minimize impacts on marine species and habitats, adapt to climate change, and enable the regeneration of depleted marine life and habitats; 2) fishing must support and enhance the health, well-being, and resilience of people and communities – in particular, the most vulnerable among us – and not simply benefit corporations that tightly steer profits to owners and shareholders while leaving others to bear the costs.

Their work, entitled ‘Rethinking sustainability of marine fisheries for a fast-changing planet’, was published in Nature‘s scientific journal ‘npj Ocean Sustainability’. This scientific endeavour aims to serve as the foundation for a complete reform of the appalling current mismanagement of the Earth’s largest common. The scientists call on policymakers, retailers, fishers, and industry leaders to embrace this new vision and commit to its implementation.

Urgent need to produce a new framework for the world’s fisheries

Today, fishing is globally recognized as the leading cause of ocean destruction. [3] In fifty years, global fish populations’ health has declined by a third.[4] The authors of the paper decided to work together over the course of years based on a shared consensus: the prevailing definition of ‘sustainable fishing’ is dangerously flawed and leads to the ongoing depletion of marine species, the destruction of natural habitats, and carbon sinks as well as the disappearance of artisanal fishing communities around the world.

“The current concept of ‘sustainable fishing’, adopted by governments and private actors since the post-war period is scientifically obsolete. It relies on a simplistic, productivist theory which assumes that as long as global catch volumes remain below a set limit, anyone can fish just about anything, anywhere, with any method” said Dr. Callum Roberts, the study’s lead author and a member of the Sea Around Us Advisory Board.

“Can we truly claim that all fishing gear is environmentally and socially equal? We currently label fisheries as sustainable without considering their impact on marine ecosystems or human factors, such as crew safety and rights” added Dr. Jennifer Jacquet, Sea Around Us alumna and member of the Advisory Board.

The scientists denounce an outdated approach to sustainability, which overlooks crucial environmental, human, and development factors.

Despite their widespread acceptance by industrial entities and consumers, current standards of ‘sustainability’ fail to address the pressing global biodiversity and climate breakdown, and instead support high-capital industrial practices which benefit the Global North while harming ecosystems and public finances, jeopardizing artisanal fishing and food security, and threatening jobs in the Global South. This model further imperils humans’ universal right to a clean, healthy and sustainable ocean.[5] Producing a new framework for marine fisheries had therefore become urgently needed.

A comprehensive vision for the future of fisheries

Authors reached another consensus: fisheries must be managed in a way that minimizes environmental harm and maximizes social benefits in the context of a hungry and warming planet.

The group of leading ocean researchers have therefore developed a visionary approach to ocean exploitation, based on a comprehensive and interdisciplinary definition of ‘fisheries sustainability’, integrating insights from biology, oceanography, social sciences, and economics. By outlining golden rules (two principles and eleven key actions), their research marks a decisive turning point, providing economic stakeholders and political leaders with foundations for an urgent transition to a viable fishing model for long-term sustainability in a rapidly changing world.

A new path forward: endless fish supply and thriving ecosystems

The new framework envisions a world where fishing ensures abundant fish stocks for humanity’s long-term needs. “Our work advocates for fisheries that preserve ocean ecosystems’ vital functions, mitigate climate change, guarantee food security and respect human rights“, said Dr. Daniel Pauly, principal investigator of the Sea Around Us initiative and co-author of the study.

This innovative approach recognizes the social, ethical, and ecological roles of fishing, proposing a systemic sustainable model enacted by market players, policymakers, and the legal system.

“We must view fishing as a privilege rather than a right. Marine life is a public good that should both benefit society and nature, not be the object of a resource race driven by private gains” Dr. Callum Roberts said. Their proposals are ambitious yet realistic, with most recommended actions rooted in proven successful practices.

The urgent call for action

The scientists urge policymakers, retailers, and fishery managers to acknowledge the failings of current fishing practices and prioritize the adoption of the proposed golden rules. Supermarkets, responsible for nearly two-thirds of European seafood sales,[6] play a pivotal role in this transition. They can influence fishing practices through their sourcing policies, scrutinize ‘sustainability’ labels, and address consumers’ growing concerns about the hidden impacts of their food.

“We are witnessing a growing disconnect between the widespread availability of supposedly sustainable fish products, the collapse of ocean ecosystems and the frequency of reported human rights abuses. Supermarkets must stop misleading consumers,” warned Pauline Bricault, BLOOM Association’s markets campaign lead, “both the IPCC and IPBES have set 2030 as a deadline for critical changes.[7] Industry stakeholders have no more excuses, they must act now”.

[1] Edgar et al., 2024, Stock assessment models overstate the sustainability of the world’s fisheries, accessible here.

[2] The Guardian, 2024, As record heat risks bleaching 73% of the world’s coral reels, scientists ask ‘what do we do now?’, accessible here.

[3] IPBES, 2019, Biodiversity and ecosystem services, accessible here.

[4] ‘health’ meaning “within biologically sustainable levels” from FAO, 2024, the state of World fisheries and aquaculture, accessible here.

[5] Bennett, et al. 2024, The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable ocean, accessible here. 

[6] GlobalData, 2023, Fish and Seafood in Europe.

[7] United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.