EDFish

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

By EDF Oceans / Published: August 2, 2021

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 »

Also posted in Global Fisheries / Tagged ecotourism, fisheries tech, Philippines, sea turtles, sustainable fisheries, technology | Comments are closed

Deepening scientific understanding and international collaboration to enhance climate resilience

By Shems Jud / Bio / Published: July 28, 2021

With a record drought depleting rivers and reservoirs, wildfires burning across the Western U.S., historic floods in Germany and China, landslides in Japan, and my own notoriously wet and dreary hometown of Portland, Oregon hitting 115 degrees recently, it’s hard to avoid thinking about climate change. But while the terrestrial impacts are wide-ranging and obvious, impacts to our oceans — no less disruptive — are generally less visible. Yet, healthy oceans are critical for sustainable fisheries and other vital ecosystem services. Fisheries provide jobs for hundreds of millions of people globally, and billions rely on seafood as an important source of protein and micronutrients.

Also posted in International / Tagged Catch Limits, Climate change, Fisheries, Fisheries Management, international collaboration, Japan, sustainability, U.S. | Comments are closed

Fishing for Resilience: a video series to introduce you to climate-resilient fisheries

By Merrick Burden / Bio / Published: June 22, 2021

Today, we’re introducing readers to the concept of climate resilience in marine fisheries through a new, three-part video series called “Fishing for Resilience.” As Environmental Defense Fund’s Senior Director for Resilient Fisheries, I played a central role in the creation of this short series — even “starring” in the videos as narrator.

Producing and narrating these videos was a bit of a personal journey for me, and not just because I had to listen to my own voice. It’s because I tried to bring this concept home, and found myself asking what climate change means to friends and family that ply the seas, what it means for my community, and what it means for the wildlife and ecosystems that I hold dear. That got me right into thinking about how to help the people, wildlife and broader ocean ecosystems that I care about in practical ways.

Also posted in Policy / Tagged Climate change, climate-resilient fisheries, Fisheries, Fisheries Management, Oceans, small-scale fisheries, sustainable fisheries | Comments are closed

Seaweeds to the rescue, redux

By Rod Fujita / Bio / Published: February 23, 2021

Recently, there has been a great deal of interest and even excitement about how seaweed might be able to help save us from climate change.

I appreciate the newfound exuberance for seaweed, and wholeheartedly agree that seaweeds do a lot for society and the planet. A similar awakening to the wonders of seaweed occurred in the 1980s, but it is now a distant memory. Let’s revisit the past so we can figure out how to create the conditions that will drive the restoration of seaweed forests and the expansion of seaweed farming at scale so they can contribute to carbon drawdown while benefiting people and nature. Read More »

Also posted in Seafood / Tagged carbon drawdown, carbon sequestration, fishery science, Food Security, Marine Science, research, seaweed, Sustainable Seafood | Comments are closed

In South America’s Humboldt Current, this collaboration to build more climate-resilient fisheries brings together two great fishing nations

By EDF Oceans / Published: October 6, 2020

By Kristin M. Kleisner and Mauricio Galvez

Along the Pacific coast of South America, a powerful ocean current brings to life one of the most abundant and productive ecosystems on the planet. The Humboldt Current System spans from southern Chile to Ecuador, pulling cold, nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths to the surface. Read More »

Also posted in Global Fisheries, International / Tagged Chile, climate, fishery science, Humboldt Current, Marine research, Marine Science, Peru | Comments are closed

Cell-based, cultured… or something else? The new seafood labeling challenge.

By EDF Oceans / Published: September 22, 2020

By Tom Neltner, J.D., Environmental Defense Fund Chemicals policy director

Meat and seafood derived from animal cells grown outside the animal are likely coming to your kitchen table. The process involves culturing cells in tanks and combining them into a consumable product using extrusion, 3-D printing or other processes commonly used in food industry. The product is nearly identical to conventional meat and seafood. Read More »

Also posted in Seafood / Tagged Aquaculture, fishery science, Seafood, seafood alternatives, Sustainable Seafood | Comments are closed