A shoal of anchovies.
Photo: Adobe Stock
A new report from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) has highlighted a continued decline in the sustainability performance of several fisheries that supply marine ingredients such as fishmeal and fish oil. The 2024 Reduction Fisheries Report, published on 2 July, shows that 11 out of 22 fisheries assessed are now rated as "poorly managed" under FishSource scores. These fisheries represent 41% of the total assessed volume, marking the highest proportion in this category since 2015, the SFP said.
While two fisheries showed improvement, the report notes that six declined in performance. A separate assessment of four Indian fisheries revealed significant challenges, particularly due to limited data availability, which prevented a full evaluation of their sustainability status.
“We’ve seen a steady decline in global performance of key fisheries since 2018, and unfortunately this year the picture got worse,” said Dave Martin, SFP’s Global Supply Chains Director, via a press release. “Where in the past it was largely persistent management issues that kept fisheries out of the top categories, for 2024 we see drops in the current and/or future stock health for several fisheries."
“It’s important to note these fisheries experience natural fluctuations, and timely management responses will improve stock health. But the results highlight the critical need for seafood supply chains to strengthen engagement in fisheries management to ensure healthy fisheries and ecosystems and meet growing customer and consumer demands for responsible seafood,“ Martin said.
The report is based on data from FishSource, SFP’s public database of fisheries performance. Now in its 15th year, the annual assessment also includes expanded scoring on environmental and biodiversity impacts, such as bycatch and ecosystem effects.
According to SFP, small pelagic fisheries worldwide face similar issues, including poor data collection, limited research on ecosystem impacts, and inadequate joint management for stocks shared between countries.
"This situation underscores the urgent need for continued and stronger industry engagement with regulators and key stakeholders," SFP states.
“The latest Reduction Fisheries Report is a wake-up call for the industry on the need for following the management of the most relevant fisheries used for feed production," said Jorge Diaz Salinas, Sustainability and Communications Director at aquaculture feed producer Skretting.
"The information disclosed here will allow us to engage more closely with our supply chain to identify and implement actions aimed at ensuring that our operations contribute to healthy fisheries and ecosystems," he added.
Aisla Jones, Feed Engagement and UK Markets Manager at the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), also described the report as a "wake-up call", arguing it provides yet more evidence for the need for market-based incentives to drive change.
“The health of wild fish stocks is critical for marine ecosystems and the long-term viability of aquaculture, which relies on responsibly sourced marine ingredients for feed,” Jones said. “The reported decline in sustainability performance illustrates that market incentives towards more sustainable sources are more and more relevant.”