How to Better Regulate the Fishing Industry (Robby Buck)

 How to Better Regulate the Fishing Industry


Overfishing worldwide has caused global fish stocks to plummet, threatening marine ecosystems and the livelihoods that depend on them. Carlos Raphael, a wealthy fisherman who exploited weaknesses in the U.S. fishing system, is a clear example of this issue. He owned 32 boats and took advantage of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regulations, which limit catches based on fish age estimates determined through earbone analysis. After 80% of Boston’s fishing fleet collapsed, shrinking from 1,500 boats to just 300, Raphael bought up 25% of the overall catch shares, effectively monopolizing the local industry. Although catch shares were introduced to promote sustainability, in cases like this, they instead concentrated power and wealth in the hands of a few, worsening inequality among fishermen.

In contrast, my visit to the Galápagos Islands in May revealed a strikingly different approach to conservation and sustainability. The islands maintain a 51,000-square-mile exclusion zone around the Galápagos Marine Reserve where large-scale fishing is prohibited. Fishing in this region requires a special license issued by the provincial government of the Galápagos, and even a national Ecuadorian license cannot override it. Spearfishing and shore fishing are completely banned to protect endangered species and tourists alike. Additionally, the islands prioritize self-sufficiency by cultivating as much food as possible using native or long-established plant species that have been re-domesticated for sustainable use.

Figure 1: Scalloped Hammerheads of the Galapagos

In comparison, the United States faces ongoing challenges in balancing economic viability with ecological preservation. Many small fisheries struggle because of limited government subsidies and strict catch limits, which make it difficult for independent fishermen to earn a living. However, if longline fishing were more tightly regulated, dredging were banned, and caps were placed on the number of boats allowed in sensitive bays, marine ecosystems could begin to recover. Combined with increased subsidies to support small-scale fisheries, these measures could restore both environmental health and economic stability along the New England coast and beyond. I envision a world that had all of the fantastical wonder of the past, not of the present. Imagine the vast amounts of ecosystems and wildlife that once roamed where humans currently reside. Imagine what continents looked like during the last epoch; there must have been oodles and oodles of life. Only for most of it to become threatened, endangered, or extinct due to human-caused factors.

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