Dr. Rashid Sumaila was interviewed by National Geographic about the United Nations (UN) efforts to develop a Conservation Treaty for the High Seas. This treaty hopes to stem the tide of illegal and under-regulated fishing and otherwise protect the ocean from a range of threats.
Closing the high seas to commercial fishing entirely and they’d act like a “fish bank,” producing more and more fish that would boost coastal catches by 18 percent, a study led by Sumaila showed. About 70 percent of fish caught inside EEZs spend some time in the high seas.
“Restricting fisheries activities to coastal waters is economically and environmentally sensible,” Sumaila said.
Article: The UN Starts a Conservation Treaty for the High Seas, December 24, 2017.
Tags: conservation, faculty, High Seas, Marine protected areas, Rashid Sumaila