What would happen if all export fishing ceased today, and countries were allowed to catch a set quota that allowed only for the feeding of its own people? Could the world economy handle such a shift?
Why?
WAG…to allow the comercially important species to rebound as best they could in the absence of any serious attempt at habitat restoration?
But really, if there is a worldwide demand for 150 pounds of cod, why would it matter if one country took all 150 and exported as opposed the the 3 countries with the damand getting it for themselves? There are already quotas that are closely and accurately monitored by Gevernment Agencies and which bear Severe Penalties if disregarded.
WAG…to allow the comercially important species to rebound as best they could in the absence of any serious attempt at habitat restoration?
But really, if there is a worldwide demand for 150 pounds of cod, why would it matter if one country took all 150 and exported as opposed the the 3 countries with the damand getting it for themselves? There are already quotas that are closely and accurately monitored by Government Agencies and which bear Severe Penalties if disregarded.
“Industrial fishing practices have decimated every one of the world´s biggest and most economically important species of fish… Fully 90 per cent of each of the world´s large ocean species, including cod, halibut, tuna, swordfish and marlin, have disappeared from the world´s oceans in recent decades… Fishing has become so efficient that it typically takes just 15 years to remove 80 per cent or more of any species unlucky enough to become the focus of a fleet´s attention.” --Washington Post
**What would happen if all export fishing ceased today, and countries were allowed to catch a set quota that allowed only for the feeding of its own people? Could the world economy handle such a shift?
Disregarding the complex issue of how to define “a set quota that allowed only for the feeding of a country’s people”, such a plan would probably hurt economically disadvantaged third world countries the most; denying them right to exploit rich, and in some cases, sustainable, fisheries.
There are many organizations arguing for commonsense regulations for managing the world’s oceans. In the U.S. the Department of Commerce manages NOAA.