Viewing: Data

The Information Age is here, but data-rich fisheries continue to be a rarity around the world. Instead, we see fisheries defined by limited information and limited application of that data for effective management.  Such poor data usage results in flawed catch limits, a lack of reliable forecasting or enforcement, little to no accountability or transparency, and the inability to meet demands for adaptive management and sustainable fisheries. Today, efforts to improve fisheries data are underway, ranging from tech-driven solutions to coalitions focused on standard-setting…

The last few years have witnessed emerging national level laws and policies around the world that are shaping the market space for traceable seafood through data-driven regulations. At the same time, seafood companies are under increasing international pressure to make and meet commitments to sustainable and socially responsible practices—a lift that requires increased levels of traceability and transparency in seafood supply chains to identify weaknesses and track improvements. The path to improved data systems and traceability will require more than just technology upgrades. In…

Fishery Development Model Fisheries are complex systems that sit at the intersection of the social, environmental and economic dynamics. To focus improvements on only one of these domains in isolation limits the effectiveness of any intervention strategy that seeks long-term sustainability, whereby stocks are well-managed, fishers have a dependable livelihood, and incentives are aligned to promote transparency and collaboration. The Fishery Development Model (FDM) offers a framework to evaluate fisheries systems holistically, as well as a process through which organizations can deeply understand the…

The laws of the sea How can you regulate something you can’t see? Though that might seem an impossible task, it is exactly the core mission of fisheries managers, who must negotiate with scientists, industry, NGOs, and various enforcement agencies to govern the living systems of the ocean. Regulating ocean resources has always been a difficult task, with mixed results depending on the model employed and the level of funding and respect given to scientific recommendations, enforcement needs, and community input. Challenges Red tape…

Ending overfishing is in everybody's interest

Future of Fish convenes key players to design a more resilient future On March 18, 2015, Future of Fish hosted a workshop in Boston for stakeholders of the New England groundfish fishery. The purpose was to collaboratively design a more resilient future by exploring how improving the flow and quality of information within the fishery might lead to tangible benefits for fishermen, businesses, managers, and the fishery itself. Through a series of discussions, collective brainstorms, and hands-on activities, workshop participants collaboratively designed frameworks for…

Reports of overfishing, Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) activities, human rights abuses, and fraud continue to tarnish the reputation of the global seafood industry. At the same time, companies practicing environmental and social responsibility are not rewarded for their efforts. Traceability is often held up as the answer to this broken system, but traceability tends to mean different things to different people, and rarely is deployed as a full-chain solution. Through years of engagement with seafood businesses and technology companies, Future of Fish has…