Difficult to define and deeply damaging: the huge cost of non-selective fisheries for marine biodiversity

Difficult to define and deeply damaging: the huge cost of non-selective fisheries for marine biodiversity

 

Non-selective fishing practices represent a critical threat to marine biodiversity, driving widespread degradation of marine ecosystems with profound consequences. Our presentation examines the extensive impacts of non-selective fisheries—both artisanal and commercial—on marine species, with a focus on biodiversity conservation. Through in-depth consultation with taxon experts from the marine-focused Specialist Groups of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), we reveal the vast taxonomic range of species (from polychaetes to marine mammals) affected by non-selective fishing, with pressures coming from a great diversity in gear types, scales, and modes of impact across fisheries.

 

Non-selective methods lead to both lethal and sublethal consequences, affecting individual organisms, entire populations, and community structures. Our analysis addresses direct mortality rates and sublethal effects—such as injury, stress, and reduced reproductive success—that collectively degrade ecological integrity. These impacts impose huge costs not only on marine species but also on food security, ecological justice, and the livelihoods of communities dependent on marine resources.

 

We will discuss the ecological and socio-economic ramifications of these practices, underscoring the urgent need for selective and sustainable fisheries management. This presentation seeks to build understanding of the scale of damage inflicted by non-selective fishing and advocate for policies centered on preserving marine biodiversity for future generations. We offer ideas on how to reduce pressures from non-selective fishing methods and propose means of making just and equitable transitions to less damaging fisheries.

 

Dr Amanda Vincent, Professor of Marine Conservation, The University of British Columbia, a.vincent@oceans.ubc.ca. Chair, IUCN SSC Marine Conservation Committee; Chair, IUCN SSC Seahorse, Pipefish & Seadragon Specialist Group.

Dr Gianna Minton, Co-Chair, IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group; Member, IUCN SSC Marine Conservation Committee.

Coralie Palmer, Marine Conservation Coordinator, Global Center for Species Survival, Indianapolis Zoological Society; IUCN SSC. Member, IUCN SSC Marine Conservation Committee.