TY - JOUR

T1 - Destructive Fishing: an expert-driven definition and exploration of this quasi-concept

AU - McCarthy, Arlie Hannah

AU - Steadman, Daniel

AU - Richardson, Hannah

AU - Murphy, Jack

AU - Benbow, Sophie

AU - Brian, Joshua I.

AU - Brooks, Holly

AU - Costa-Domingo, Giulia

AU - Hazin, Carolina

AU - McOwen, Chris

AU - Walker, Jessica

AU - Willer, David

AU - Abdi, Mohamad

AU - Auster, Peter J.

AU - Bealey, Roy

AU - Bensted-Smith, Robert

AU - Broadburn, Kathryn

AU - Carvalho, Goncalo

AU - Collinson, Tom

AU - Erinosho, Bolanle

AU - Fabinyi, Michael

AU - Febrica, Senia

AU - Forbi, Wilson Ngwa

AU - Garcia, Sege M.

AU - Goad, David

AU - Goldsworthy, Lynda

AU - Govan, Hugh

AU - Heaphy, Charles

AU - Hiddink, Jan Geert

AU - Hosch, Gilles

AU - Kachelriess, Daniel

AU - Kinch, Jeff

AU - Lancaster, Alana Malinde S. N.

AU - Le Manach, Frederic

AU - Matthews, Thomas

AU - Medellin-Ortiz, Alfonso

AU - Morgan, Alexia

AU - Motta, Helena

AU - Marua, Hilario

AU - Namboothri, Naveen

AU - Ndiritu, Evelyne

AU - Passfield, Kelvin

AU - Pilcher, Nicolas J.

AU - Portus, James O.

AU - Rguez-Baron, James M.

AU - Robertson, Morvern

AU - Sharma, Abhilasha

AU - Suazo, Cristian G.

AU - Tamini, Leandro Luis

AU - Vilata-Simon, Juan

AU - Mukherjee, Nibedita

PY - 2024/3/28

Y1 - 2024/3/28

N2 - Numerous policy and international frameworks consider that ‘destructive fishing’ hampers efforts to reach sustainability goals. Though ubiquitous, ‘destructive fishing’ is undefined and therefore currently immeasurable. Here we propose a definition developed through expert consultation: “Destructive fishing is any fishing practice that causes irrecoverable habitat degradation, or which causes significant adverse environmental impacts, results in long-term declines in target or non-target species beyond biologically safe limits and has negative livelihood impacts.” We show strong stakeholder support for a definition, consensus on many biological and ecological dimensions, and no clustering of respondents from different sectors. Our consensus definition is a significant step towards defining sustainable fisheries goals and will help interpret and implement global political commitments which utilise the term 'destructive fishing'. Our definition and results will help reinforce the FAO Code of Conduct and meaningfully support member countries to prohibit destructive fishing practices.

AB - Numerous policy and international frameworks consider that ‘destructive fishing’ hampers efforts to reach sustainability goals. Though ubiquitous, ‘destructive fishing’ is undefined and therefore currently immeasurable. Here we propose a definition developed through expert consultation: “Destructive fishing is any fishing practice that causes irrecoverable habitat degradation, or which causes significant adverse environmental impacts, results in long-term declines in target or non-target species beyond biologically safe limits and has negative livelihood impacts.” We show strong stakeholder support for a definition, consensus on many biological and ecological dimensions, and no clustering of respondents from different sectors. Our consensus definition is a significant step towards defining sustainable fisheries goals and will help interpret and implement global political commitments which utilise the term 'destructive fishing'. Our definition and results will help reinforce the FAO Code of Conduct and meaningfully support member countries to prohibit destructive fishing practices.

KW - Ecology

KW - Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

KW - Nature and Landscape Conservation

U2 - 10.1111/conl.13015

DO - 10.1111/conl.13015

M3 - Article

JO - Conservation Letters

JF - Conservation Letters

SN - 1755-263X

ER -