'How problematic is overfishing in the Atlantic Ocean?' asked DeMorgen.be in their article

PFA response to article: Herring and mackerel threatened by overfishing: will we soon pay considerably more for it?

NETHERLANDS
Friday, October 11, 2024, 00:20 (GMT + 9)

PFA Statement:

The Pelagic Freezer Trawler Association (PFA) regrets that the recent article Herring and mackerel threatened by overfishing: will we soon pay considerably more for it? on the website of De Morgen paints an incomplete and careless picture of the current situation surrounding the pelagic fish species mackerel and Atlanto herring. Important context and essential information have been omitted, which contributes to an unjustified negative image of, among other things, the European pelagic fishing sector.

It is important that the full context is highlighted in order to be able to present a nuanced and factual representation. We would like to respond to the following specific parts of the article:

The title Herring and mackerel threatened by overfishing: will we soon pay considerably more for it? wrongly implies that herring in general is being overfished. The text discusses the so-called Atlanto herring; a pelagic fish species that other coastal states than the EU currently catch structurally too much. North Sea herring, on the other hand, is MSC-certified and is doing well despite annual fluctuations in the stock.

The article also paints an incorrect picture of efficiency in pelagic fishing. It is precisely the advanced sonar techniques and the possibility of processing and storing pelagic fish on board freezer trawlers that make this form of fishing one of the lowest CO2 footprints of all forms of animal protein production.

Furthermore, this text indirectly claims that fishermen would use efficiency to fish the last fish out of the ocean. Fish is their daily bread. That is why the EU and the Netherlands fish the Northeast Atlantic stocks within the limits.

The claim that pelagic fish stocks are currently in the waters of other coastal states also requires some qualification: mackerel moves over large distances and the stock shows varying presence in different locations. At the moment, the stock is retreating more into the northern North Sea. Claims based on geographical distribution are impossible to justify due to the year-to-year differences and gaps in the available data.

Fishmeal for salmon can come from all kinds of fish, but more often than from valuable mackerel and herring it is from species such as blue whiting. Unfortunately, it is increasingly common for other countries such as Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland to fish for poorer quality mackerel in order to build up track records. This fish often ends up in fishmeal and oil instead of human consumption. It is a fact that salmon farmers also use non-MSC certified fish for their fish feed. Furthermore, the article fails to mention that the same pelagic fish also make a huge contribution to global food security.

The joint sustainable management of pelagic fisheries is crucial to not only protect biodiversity but also to ensure future food security for generations to come. PFA members provide around 5 million fish meals per day in countries where the need for nutritious and affordable food is greatest.

This article represents the opinion of the author. The opinion articles published do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this media. Fish Info & Services is an independent media, open to the opinion of its readers. If you wish to publish, contact us at [email protected]

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