Mike Sutton - Director of Sustainable Fisheries Program, David&Lucile Packard Foundation
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Seminar Abstract:
On the whole, public policyhas failed marine fisheries around the world. Unsustainable fishing has become the norm and evidence is mounting that fisheries are seriously affecting marine ecosystems. The UN Food & Agriculture Organization reports that at least 60 percent of the world’s 200 most valuable fish species are overexploited and in urgent need of management. Federal courts in the U.S. have curtailed a number of fisheries due to their impacts on endangered species. The European Union has belatedly placed severe limits on groundfish fishing in the North Sea. Chronic lack of political will and the slow pace of policy changes have largely prevented treaties, laws, and regulations from arresting overexploitation and ensuring sustainable fishing.
Heretofore, few attempts have been made to enlist the power of commerce itself in favor of marine conservation. Today, a growing movement seeks to harness market forces and the power of consumer choice topromote more sustainable fishing. The Marine Stewardship Council hasbegun an international program to independently certify well-managed fisheriesand award an ecolabel to seafood products from certified fisheries. Two conservation organizations recently concluded their Give Swordfish a Breakcampaign, which resulted in significant improvements in the management ofNorth Atlantic swordfish. A number of organizations recently formedthe Seafood Choices Alliance to promote awareness and activism for conservationamong seafood consumers. Leading chefs, restaurateurs, and food retailershave joined the Alliance, seeking to reward sustainable fishing in the marketplace. Seafood lovers all over North America are discovering new sources of informationthat help them make better choices and contribute directly to the conservationof marine fisheries.
History suggests that the considerable power of commerce can have an enormous influence on the conservation of natural resources. The challenge today is to deploy that power in a coordinated fashion so that advice to seafood consumers is coherent, credible, consistent, and effective. Done well, this effort has the potential to make an enormous difference in the way fisheries are managed in the 21st century. Perhaps fishery managerswill finally get the boost they need to overcome political interference andbureaucratic inertia, and become more responsible and effective decisionmakers.
Biography:
Michael Sutton heads
the Sustainable Fisheries Program at the
David & Lucile Packard Foundation
inLos Altos, California, the largest private funder of wildlife conservation
effortsin North America. Previously, Mr. Sutton founded and directed World
WildlifeFund's Endangered
Seas
Campaign, a global effort to promote the conservation and sustainableuse
of marine fisheries.
In the United States, Mr. Sutton has served asa senior advisor to the Secretary of Commerce and theSecretary of State on marine fishery issues, sitting on two Federal Advisory Committees. He is a founding member of the national steering committees of boththe Marine Fish Conservation Network and the Ocean Wildlife Campaign, the latteran international coalition working to conserve large pelagic fishes such as sharks,tuna, and swordfish.
Readings
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Last modified 12/9/2001
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comments to: susfish@u.washington.edu