Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy: Striking the Balance Essay

Introduction

In the past, low populations made it possible for anthropological societies to enjoy the abundance of natural resources devoid of the need for interventions and legislation. These indigenous people owned and took care of resources communally, ensuring transfer of knowledge about safeguarding coastal social-ecological systems to new generations. They had different approaches to marine management, like burning of prairies to enhance the growth of camas and halting the opening of weak fisheries to allow recovery. Additionally, they used fishing gear like weirs and basket traps which allowed some fish to escape and spawn, ensuring continued reproduction and supply (Mathews, and Turner 173-191).

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Commercialization of the industry has however created a vicious cycle which continues to shatter rights of ownership to resources, food systems and transfer of knowledge to succeeding generations. Satterfield et al. (399) postulate that the implications of ecosystem changes occasioned by global warming are felt the most by communities that make a living off marine resources. The relocation of communities who live at or below sea level and shrinking of the once-constant supply of seafood have radically disrupted the right to food and resources, especially for the indigenous communities.

Marine Conservation Strategies and Policies

The resultant disconnect between natural resources, cultural practices and the community (Mathews, and Turner 197) have created the need for extended focus on formulating strategies and policies that aim to conserve marine environments. Koehn et al. (65) posit that while there seems to exist goodwill to protect diminishing resources, high profile decisions are being made by economic powers, to the chagrin of anthropological society which is profoundly affected by changes in the food system as a result of stringent policies. Questions about food security, fundamental human and indigenous rights over environmental resources have therefore perennially influenced conservation policy priorities and strategies in marine environments.

Satterfield et al. (400) define food security as the capacity to produce, acquire or access food that is enough to feed a household or individual, devoid of hunger or starvation scares. They allude to FAO data pointing to the fact that in 2013, seafood accounted for 17% of global animal protein intake, which makes fishing a core aspect of food security. Statistics further estimate that by 2050, there will be a need to double the sources of animal protein sufficient enough for the anticipated demand by the growing population.

Koehn et al. (70) underpin that while policies about conservation of marine life aim at reducing overfishing by maximizing output from the minimal input, economic benefits expand but the availability of fish especially for the low end of the market is affected. The argument is supported by Satterfield et al. (402-403) who examine the possibility of food security in an environment with legal restrictions and concerns over the effects of global warming. They pose that legislation limits the capacity to fish without restrictions, which inherently infringes on the rights of indigenous people to food, an essential requirement for their survival.

Furthermore, some restrictions have worked for corporate fisheries while making it impossible for small-scale industry players to remain afloat. These policies have destabilized their sources of livelihoods and violated their fundamental labor rights. Referring to a 2014 report by FAO, Koehn et al. (74) express that the marine industry employs more than a hundred million people, from actual fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing and retailing, which means that the livelihoods of up to 12% of the world's population are affected. There have since been objections by the human rights movement, with civil society institutions like the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers actively opposing policies that enhance the privatization of communal resources.

As Mathews and Turner (169) posit, strategies that aim to seek alternatives are also responsible for the destruction of marine biodiversity by introducing invasive species. Aquaculture, which was meant to supplement the dwindling natural fish stocks, is a threat in its way as it has reduced the age, proportion, and diversity of marine stocks (Satterfield et al. 414). A consensus on whether the social cost of taking care of the struggling indigenous population as a result of intrusion and legislation over territories outweighs the global economic and environmental benefit has been difficult to reach.

The irony lies in the fact that despite the existence of modern conservation policies and strategies, marine habitats continue to get depleted. Several fish species have become extinct, and many others remain endangered, harvesting windows have changed, and food procurement is difficult. Indigenous communities have also lost their cultural identities, making it difficult to pass on vital information to new generations as before (Mathews, and Turner 195). The dilemma for policymakers lies in striking a balance between short-term benefits versus sustainability, as some aspects conflict individual or corporate economic interests with traditional ways of life and livelihoods for indigenous communities.

Conclusion

The policy landscape in the fisheries sector is complicated. The balance between conservation while pitting modernity against the right to resources and food by indigenous populations is hard to strike. A critical entry point for designing marine policies is, therefore, understanding what affects different zones and working alongside these issues. There is a need for collaborative research and experimentation on indigenous management systems as a yardstick for creating new approaches towards modern management frameworks that work. As the back and forth continues, the future of seafood, which supplements a substantial portion of the human diet, remains uncertain.

Works Cited

Koehn, John Z. et al. "How Can the Oceans Help Feed 9 Billion People?" Pp. 65-77., Accessed 15 Nov 2018.

Mathews, Darcy L., and Nancy J. Turner. "Ocean Cultures: Northwest Coast Ecosystems and

Indigenous Management Systems". Conservation for The Anthropocene Ocean, 2017, pp. 169-206. Elsevier, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-805375-1.00009-x. Accessed 15 Nov 2018.

Satterfield, Terre, et al. "Implications of a Changing Climate for Food Sovereignty in Coastal

British Columbia". The University of British Columbia, Accessed 15 Nov 2018.