Overfishing – A threat to a billion dollar Industry 

United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) number 12 promotes Sustainable Consumption and Production patterns. This is after realizing that one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss and extinction of species is unsustainable harvesting of natural resources. Aquatic species are among the most overharvested natural resources.

The Fishing Industry is a large, billion-dollar industry which is dependent on natural resources. Globally, the commercial fishing industry stood at $240.99 billion dollars in 2017 and is expected to reach $38.59 billion by 2026. Zimbabwe is among the top 10 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa when it comes to the magnitude of fish farming with an estimated 10 600 tons produced in 2014 according to the FAO database.

The powerhouse of Zimbabwe’s fishing industry is Lake Kariba. Lake Chivero, Lake Manyame, Lake Mutirikwi and Mazvikadei are other reservoirs which significantly contribute to the vibrant fisheries industry in the country. This industry plays an important role in the food and economic security of communities living around these water bodies.

However, the fishing industry has been declining as a result of declining fish populations attributed to the unsustainable harvesting practices such as overfishing. Overfishing has become the leading threat to the sustainability of the fishing industry. Global fish populations have declined by a third, with some species being endangered and threatened by extinction.  Human population growth has been the driver of this decline, resulting in the demand for fish exceeding the supply.  The failure of the supply to meet the demand results in an increase in the frequency of harvesting which in turn shortens the breeding season of fish replenishing.

Causes of overfishing

One of the many causes of overfishing is poaching. The demand for fish is also on the increase due to fish being a cheaper source of protein compared to other sources. The evolution of fishing technologies to more advanced technologies which makes fishermen to easily detect the presence of fish is also contributing to overfishing.

Some water bodies are shared by two or more countries. An example is the Lake Kariba which is shared between Zimbabwe (55%) and Zambia (45%) and at risk of the ‘’Tragedy of the Commons’’ and management of such a water body becomes complicated.

Impacts of overfishing

•          Natural ecosystem processes are linked and disruption of one process affects and comprises the whole system. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), overfishing can impact entire ecosystems. It can alter the size of the fish remaining, as well as how they reproduce and the speed at which they mature. When too many fish are taken out of oceans and other water sources, it creates an imbalance that can erode the food web and lead to a loss of other important marine life, including vulnerable species like sea turtles and corals.

•          Decline in the fish population means that the capacity to sustain the increasing human population will also decline. Fish is a source of protein for most communities in fishing areas and contributes significantly to the daily diet and eliminating fish can possibly lead to malnutrition.

•          Overfishing disrupts reproduction cycles of fish species as it results in the rate of removal exceeding ability of fish stocks to replenish. This shortens the breeding cycle contributing to biodiversity loss, which eventually leads to the extinction of fish species. 

•          The Fishing Industry significantly contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) directly through fish sales and indirectly through tourism and manufacturing sectors. Overfishing leads to the decline in fish populations, negatively affecting the fishing industry and other sectors dependent on fish which in turn impact the country’s GDP.

•          Millions of people in largely developing, coastal communities depend on the fishing industry for their livelihood and half the world’s population relies on fish as a major source of protein. When fish disappear, so do jobs and coastal economies. High demand for fish continues to drive overexploitation and environmental degradation, especially close to water resources.

Strategies to address overfishing

Solutions to curb overfishing require scientific research to inform the strategies to be implemented. The first thing required is to carry out an inventory of fish species and their populations in order to make informed decisions and come up with research-based solutions. Providing alternative food sources so as to reduce sole reliance on fish can be a solution to overfishing. Establishment of household and community fish farming projects to reduce pressure on Lake Kariba as well as other reservoirs is an imperative. Establishing strong policies with efficient enforcement, as well as harsh penalties for law-breakers, so as to reduce cases of fish poaching incidents.

Raising awareness to local communities by embarking on education and awareness programs in local communities on the importance of fish resources and the importance of sustainable fishing can reduce overfishing. Educational campaigns and government programs could help inform fishing stakeholders about the consequences of overfishing and help them to learn to comply with regulations without sacrificing profit or productivity.

Traceability standards should be established so that fish importers and vendors label sold fish with information about where the fish came from. These disclosures help make the supply chains that deliver fish from water resources to markets more transparent and help root out illegal fishing. The standards also better inform consumers about where their fish is coming from.

Overfishing is an activity that has always been in existence in the past years, and will be in existence in the years to come. There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that overfishing practices are curbed. Efforts must be made, especially in developing countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, where these practices are at high scale, to educate local communities on the importance of fish resources and how their depletion will affect their future. The good news is that the disastrous consequences brought about by overfishing can be reversed, if we all cooperate, and be sustainable in the harvesting and utilization of fish resources. It’s not too late to start now!