Commercial Fishing
For commercial fisherman, making a living means hauling in a good catch day in and day out. Finding the right balance between economically feasible fishing and sustainable practices is a tough chore for any commercial fisherman that is trying to be successful. However, there are current initiatives and practices that can help facilitate this balancing act.
Suggestions to Improve Commercial Fishing Sustainability
- Become certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which has created one of the first environmental standards for sustainable fishing in the world
- Abide by all laws pertaining to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006
- Research new net and line designs that can increase the intended catch numbers while decreasing bycatch. For example, the use of new hook designs has been shown to reduce the number of endangered sea turtles killed in long line fishing operations by as much as 90 percent, while having almost no effect on the catch rate of targeted fish. (WWF, 2007)
© 2007 - Sustainable Seafood Guide
Works Cited
Questions/comments? Please email Stephen Durkee, Zach Eyler, or Jason Franken.