Exploitation in the Open Ocean
Emma Williams
Despite the sheer vastness and remoteness of the open ocean it has not escaped the adverse impacts of humans. Once thought of as an inexhaustible resource and treated with a ‘free for all, take what you like’ attitude, it is now abundantly clear that we went too far. Our efforts to catch all we could has jeopardised the balance and resilience of this magnificent ecosystem. Sadly, like other marine ecosystems, the open ocean is facing numerous threats that continue to intensify. From problems of stock sustainability to human rights issues, it’s all happening in the open ocean.
Here we will discuss some of the biggest threats facing the open ocean – overfishing, ghost gear, illegal activity, and human rights breaches.
Fish on ice at a market. Photo: Unsplash
Overfishing
Historically, the remoteness of the open ocean meant few boats ventured into its waters. However, technological advancements and a reduction of fishing stocks in coastal waters, have made the previously inaccessible open ocean became another resource to exploit. But the virtues of the new fishing grounds didn’t last long. Fishing fleets now have to travel further, fish deeper and for longer to get the same catches as a consequence of chronic overfishing and stock collapses throughout the ocean.
What’s more, government subsidies are fuelling unsustainable fishing efforts. A 2017 study drew attention to subsidies heavily favouring large-scale industrial fisheries which support fewer jobs and provide less seafood directly to humans compared to small-scale fisheries. In 2018, over £11 billion of subsidies were provided to support the global fishing industry. Money which arguably could be better spent developing long-term sustainable blue economy jobs, rather than exacerbating overfishing. Sharks and rays are one of the groups that have suffered the most from relentless and reckless overfishing. A recent study, found a global decline of 71% in the abundance of open ocean sharks and rays since 1970. This has been attributed to an 18-fold increase in fishing pressure since the 1970s.
Two blue sharks. Photo: Magnus Lundborg @magnus_lundborg
Enormous supertrawlers with nets up to 600m across are capable of catching entire populations, and longline vessels targeting tuna and swordfish can deploy lines up to 100 miles long, with thousands of baited hooks. These methods not only affect target species but can have devastating impacts on bycatch species too. Common bycatch species of longline vessels include sharks, turtles and seabirds. An estimated 320,000 seabirds are killed as bycatch by longline fisheries every year. Another study reported that sharks can account for over 70% of the entire catch. While some boats discard shark bycatch at sea, others keep them for their valuable fins. Sadly, the shark fin trade is the single biggest factor driving the destruction of shark populations globally.
I don’t believe in ghost…nets
You may have heard about ghost nets. They are fishing nets that have been lost or intentionally discarded at sea. They spend the rest of their lives roaming the ocean on currents entangling marine life. Fishing gear floating around the ocean can be almost invisible. An additional 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear are added to the ocean each year with adverse impacts on marine life. Regrettably, the consequence of this ghost fishing gear is the death of 100,000 marine animals every year, including whales, dolphins, turtles, sharks, rays and seabirds. Once entangled many species twist and turn in a panicked attempt to free themselves, only to become more entangled, and sadly often succumb to drowning. The ironic truth is that huge numbers of marine animals are drowning each year at the hands of humans. This is an issue that warrants public outrage and immediate action. Unfortunately, as ghost gear floats around the oceans out of sight it also quickly leaves our minds and once again this silent and deadly threat is left to torment the ocean.
Seabird trapped in an abandoned net. Photo: Magnus Lundborg @magnus_lundborg
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Activity
The enormous size of the open ocean is difficult to grasp. Now imagine trying to monitor and enforce rules there. Then add in the fact that it lies beyond the bounds of national jurisdiction in international waters. Managed by regional organisations that all have different members and different rules. It all gets a bit complicated.
Unfortunately, the intrinsic challenges of governing the open ocean, given its size and remoteness, mean that illegal activities are able to take place beyond the watchful eye of the authorities. This may involve fishing in unpermitted areas, using illegal gear, taking prohibited species or sizes, or participating in banned practices like shark finning.
Management can be complicated further by transshipment at sea. This is the transfer of catch and supplies between vessels whilst at sea. Huge transshipment vessels resupply fishing boats and take their catch back to port allowing them to stay at sea for longer. During this process the catch from different vessels is mixed making it impossible to distinguish between legal and illegal catch. Transshipment at sea is widely recognised as playing a major role in understanding how illegally caught fish ends up at legitimate markets. The impacts of this are so great that some regions have implemented bans or restrictions on transshipment at sea activities to try and regain control of IUU activities.
Artisanal fisherman, Philippines. Photo: Emma Williams @emma_underthewaves
The adverse impacts of IUU fishing activities are far reaching. They jeopardises the livelihoods of millions of people who are reliant on the fishing industry, compromise food security of coastal states, and undermines regional fisheries management and conservation efforts.
Breaching of human rights on the high seas
As a consequence of transshipments at sea, whether legal or illegal, fishing boats are now able to stay at sea for extended periods. Some boats only returning to land every couple of years. Not only does this lead to relentless fishing pressure on animals, it also facilitates the entrapment of workers onboard. Fishing boats participating in IUU activities are frequently found to violate employment and labour regulations. There are growing reports of physical abuse, human trafficking and de-facto slavery on board boats, demonstrating a complete disregard for human rights.
Fishing Nets. Photo: Unsplash
As you have seen the result of our open ocean exploitation, characterised by a lack of accountability and responsibility, is not only having adverse impacts on the species that live there, but the people who work there too.
So, will the remoteness of the open ocean lead to its demise or could it be its saving grace? That is up to us all.