4th August: the day the UK starts eating someone else's fish
04 August 2010
Report reveals that the UK is dependent on fish from other countries for 151 days of the year and points to EU fisheries policy reform as a unique opportunity to bring fish back to British waters.
In Britain we eat more fish than our seas can produce. UK fish supplies only last for seven months of the year, after that, the UK becomes dependent on fish from elsewhere, according to the report Fish Dependence from leading independent think-tank nef (the new economics foundation) and OCEAN2012, published this July.
“We’ve cashed in the chips on our fish supplies; but we now have a big chance to restore fish stocks at the UK level and beyond” said Aniol Esteban, head of environmental economics at nef and co-founder of OCEAN2012.
The report points to the upcoming reform of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) as a unique opportunity to turn this situation around and create a new fisheries model that will restore marine ecosystems and deliver a fair share of resources across the world.
The report shows the impact of stock decline and rising consumption by mapping resources onto a calendar year and then finding the day when the EU - and each one of its member states - starts to eat the catch from the rest of the world. It shows that:
} If people in the UK were to only eat fish from our own supplies, we would run-out of fish on 3rd August, becoming dependent on fish from around the world from 4th August onwards, based on current levels of consumption.
} The day the UK becomes fish dependent now arrives two weeks earlier than it did in 2000 revealing an increasing level of dependence on fish from elsewhere.
} Fish farming has failed to halt our increasing dependence on fish from elsewhere. If we exclude aquaculture production, the UK becomes fish dependent three weeks earlier (13th July).
} The UK is doing better than other EU member states Spain goes into fish debt on May 10, Germany on 5 May, Italy on 6 May and France on June 20, but the UK still needs to do more.
} Each UK citizen consumes 20.6kg of fish a year, similar to average EU consumption, but well above global fish consumption of 16.4kg/year.
With 72% of fish stocks in European waters overfished, it is clear that we need to fish and consume in a different way; so that we can guarantee jobs, food and income, and support millions of livelihoods now and into the future.
“A healthy marine environment is a pre-condition to building a stronger economy, a more robust industry and happier fishing communities. There are fish without fisheries but no fisheries without fish.” says Aniol Esteban from nef/OCEAN2012.
UK could show leadership on EU fisheries
The next few months will define the direction of EU fisheries reform, nef / OCEAN2012 call on the UK government to show leadership and act to secure a new EU fisheries policy that delivers sustainable and fair outcomes for all.
“The good news is that some UK fish stocks are recovering, but the reality is that the large majority of stocks continue to be overfished. The UK government is showing some positive signals, but now is the time to translate these into real action.” says Rupert Crilly from nef; co-author of the report.
Findings of the report suggest the UK has potential to become a leader in sustainable fishing and consumption, which would ensure stock viability for future generations as well as improve our marine environment.
The report urges immediate action to:
} Reduce fishing capacity to bring it in-line with available resources by improving data collection, transparency and reporting; and by prioritising scientific advice in determining catch quotas.
} Make conservation profitable, by making access to resources conditional on social and environmental criteria.
} Promote responsible consumption among all EU consumers, and implementing measures that are conducive to more responsible fishing outside EU waters.
} Use public funds to deliver social and environmental goods by investing in environmentally constructive measures, research, and stakeholder involvement, as well as enforcing sustainable quotas and practices. These aims contrast with the current funding pattern of supporting overcapacity in the fishing fleet through modernising vessels, and failure to control overfishing, for example by allowing access to fisheries stocks.
“Richard Benyon MP, fisheries minister, has a phenomenal opportunity to turn this situation around. Rewarding responsible fishing with priority access and enshrining environmental sustainability as a condition for economic and social outcomes are two basic principles that need to be at the heart of the reform.” says Aniol Esteban.
- ENDS -
Notes to editors:
- About nef
nef (the new economics foundation) is an independent think-and-do tank that inspires and demonstrates real economic well-being. We aim to improve quality of life by promoting innovative solutions that challenge mainstream thinking on economic, environment and social issues. We work in partnership and put people and the planet first. - About OCEAN2012
OCEAN2012 is an alliance of organisations dedicated to transforming European Fisheries Policy to stop overfishing, end destructive fishing practices and deliver fair and equitable use of healthy fish stocks. OCEAN2012 was initiated, and is co-ordinated, by the Pew Environment Group, the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-governmental organisation working to end overfishing in the world´s oceans.
The founding members of OCEAN2012 are the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA), the Fisheries Secretariat (FISH), nef (new economics foundation), the Pew Environment Group and Seas At Risk (SAR).
