September 4, 2012
Researchers say that a new Pew-commissioned study underscores the need for protecting species by outlining the economic costs of historic overfishing. In a prepared statement the Pew Environment Group explained, “the Southeast sustained tens of millions of dollars in economic losses during a five-year period because years of overfishing depleted species.”
The study, conducted by the nonprofit consulting firm Ecotrust, examined the impact of overfishing on nine severely depleted species in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico from 2005 to 2009.
“Overfishing—catching fish faster than they can reproduce—leaves a costly legacy that hurts our communities,” said Lee Crockett, Pew’s Director of U.S. Fisheries Campaigns. “The Ecotrust study makes a strong economic case for the laws we have today that require science-based annual catch limits to end and prevent overfishing. These limits could help deliver robust fish populations, create jobs, and put money back into our coastal communities.”
Overfishing has depleted nearly 20 percent of the nation’s commercially and recreationally important ocean fish, including some species of tuna, cod, flounder, snapper, and grouper. Restoring fish populations improves the health of the region’s ecosystems, which also draws visitors from around the world.
“Overfishing has made it significantly tougher for me to make a living,” said Captain Bill Taylor, owner-operator of Black Dog Charters of Jupiter, Fla. “Our local tourist economy can only benefit from staying the course of rebuilding fish populations.”
One of the Ecotrust report authors, Kristen Sheeran, explained that the findings of the study underscore the costly legacy of inadequate management, while providing strong economic evidence in support of maintaining healthy ocean fish populations.
Information for this post from the Pew Environment Group
Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration