A key area of WWF’s work on sustainable fishing is engaging with the fishing industry and governments to stop overfishing.
Improving fisheries management
Our work centres on incorporating ecosystem-based management into the way fisheries are managed, and includes efforts to:
- reduce fishing capacity to levels that marine ecosystems can sustain
- reduce fishing pressure to allow over-exploited fish populations to recover and ensure the maintenance of healthy populations
- promote fairer Fisheries Partnership Agreements for fishing in foreign waters
Mediterranean bluefin tuna — highly prized around the world, especially in Japan for sushi and sashimi — has been under increasing pressure from overfishing. Display of frozen tunas to be auctioned at the Tsukiji fish market, Tokyo, Japan.
What's the problem?
The world's oceans are plagued by overfishing. It's so bad that several important commercial fish populations have already declined to the point where fishing is no longer economically viable and their survival is threatened. Find out more...
Better fisheries management in Europe
Trawlers operating in the Mediterranean Sea.
WWF has worked for over a decade to ensure that European fisheries policy is long-sighted, precautionary, and based on the best available scientific advice.
In 2002, WWF's Stop Overfishing campaign scored a major victory by helping to put environmental concerns and long-term resource sustainability at the heart of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
We are now working to ensure that the next reform, in 2012, delivers an even more robust policy that will save Europe's seas and the fish in them.
For more information, see wwf.eu/fisheries
In 2002, WWF's Stop Overfishing campaign scored a major victory by helping to put environmental concerns and long-term resource sustainability at the heart of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
We are now working to ensure that the next reform, in 2012, delivers an even more robust policy that will save Europe's seas and the fish in them.
For more information, see wwf.eu/fisheries
Global Initiatives
News
-
Fisheries deal fails to bridge gap with ambitious European Parliament
Fisheries ministers work through the night but appear to have not jumped on board ambitious fisheries reform
-
Member states finally agree on fisheries deal but fail to bridge gap with ambitious Parliament
After pulling yet another all-nighter, Fisheries Ministers finalised their negotiating mandate with regards to the current EU fisheries reform.
-
Ending overfishing may take more than 100 years says WWF analysis of EU proposals for fish stock recovery
New scientific analysis from environmental organisation WWF reveals recovery of European fish stocks will take more than 100 years under current ...
