EDFish

As the Blue Economy blossoms, the fishing industry is being left behind. What can we do about it?

By Julia Rose and Christopher Cusack

The generation of goods and services on or for the oceans has been growing exponentially in recent years. Industries such as shipping, marine tourism, aquaculture and renewable energy contribute to a “Blue Economy” that employed 2.3 million Americans and generated $373 billion for the U.S. economy in 2018. Read More »

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Aquatic/Blue Foods: The Missing Ingredient for a Sustainable Future

By Jim Leape, Kristian Teleki, Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted and Thomas V. Grasso, Co-chairs, Blue Food Cluster for the U.N. Food Systems Summit 2021

This op-ed was first published in ECO Magazine’s Autumn 2021 edition. View it here.

Our food systems are fragile and worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conventional food systems, already stretched, have been undermined by outdated supply chains and exposed as vulnerable to climate change. Add to this:

  • Global malnutrition is on the rise and hunger continues to plague far too many people.
  • Global population is projected to be 10 billion by 2050.
  • With just under a decade left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, no country is currently on track to do so.

Read More »

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Maximizing benefits: considerations for oceans technology applications 

By Trudie Grattan and Melissa Mahoney

When you hear the phrase “oceans technology,” what comes to mind? Do you picture a futuristic device that’s cleaning up the Pacific Garbage Patch? Smart cameras to see a fishing vessel’s activity, fishing location and more? Read More »

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Can ecotourism increase climate resilience in tropical small-scale fishing communities?

By Christopher Cusack, Edwina Garchitorena and Rod Fujita

Globally, fisheries are of great importance. Yet small-scale fishers and their communities in the tropics are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rebuilding and managing the fish stocks that these communities rely on is critical to ensuring the food security and climate resilience of hundreds of millions of small-scale fishers globally. Generally, we know how to achieve this: reduce fishing pressure to allow stocks to grow to healthy levels and protect and improve fragile ocean ecosystems. Read More »

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Celebrating Fishermen’s Day in Peru: a tribute to traditional sailing on the high seas

By Nina Pardo and Hector Soldi

On June 4, a small but mighty fleet of artisanal sailboats from the fishing communities of Cabo Blanco and El Ñuro in northern Peru unfolded their sails and went out to sea — sailing alongside the Peruvian Navy’s sailing vessel La Unión. This annual regatta is a salute to the artisanal fishing fleet of Peru, which uses only the wind in their sails and their ancient traditions of navigation to fish a variety of important species for local seafood markets and restaurants. Read More »

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Cell-cultured it is!

By Tom Neltner, J.D., Chemicals policy director

Over the past several years, EDF has been tracking the development of innovative seafood products where the components are grown from cells in tanks and combined into consumable products using extrusion, 3-D printing or other processes commonly used in the food industry. Read More »

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