Reconstructing overfishing: Moving beyond Malthus for effective and equitable solutions

Abstract

Inaccurate or incomplete diagnosis of the root causes of overfishing can lead to misguided and ineffective fisheries policies and programmes. The “Malthusian overfishing narrative” suggests that overfishing is driven by too many fishers chasing too few fish and that fishing effort grows proportionately to human population growth, requiring policy interventions that reduce fisher access, the number of fishers, or the human population. By neglecting other drivers of overfishing that may be more directly related to fishing pressure and provide more tangible policy levers for achieving fisheries sustainability, Malthusian overfishing relegates blame to regions of the world with high population growth rates, while consumers, corporations and political systems responsible for these other mediating drivers remain unexamined. While social–ecological systems literature has provided alternatives to the Malthusian paradigm, its focus on institutions and organized social units often fails to address fundamental issues of power and politics that have inhibited the design and implementation of effective fisheries policy. Here, we apply a political ecology lens to unpack Malthusian overfishing and, relying upon insights derived from the social sciences, reconstruct the narrative incorporating four exemplar mediating drivers: technology and innovation, resource demand and distribution, marginalization and equity, and governance and management. We argue that a more nuanced understanding of such factors will lead to effective and equitable fisheries policies and programmes, by identifying a suite of policy levers designed to address the root causes of overfishing in diverse contexts.

Managing at Maximum Sustainable Yield does not ensure economic well‐being for artisanal fishers

“…Given that specific pressures on the oceans, including overfishing and overcapacity, are regulated within wider socio‐ecological systems (Finkbeiner et al., ), it is vital that the interdependencies between social and ecological processes be explicitly addressed by policymakers even when discussing benefits of reduced capacity and economic diversification. There is emerging recognition for the potential of the oceans as a platform for multiple innovative industries and wealth creation, as recently promoted within the Blue Economy framework, that are especially relevant in coastal areas that currently often rely almost exclusively on fisheries for income and livelihoods (Keen, Schwarz, & Wini‐Simeon, ; World Bank and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, ).…”

“…However, recent studies suggest that this vision is incomplete, noting that other drivers may be equally or more important in determining overfishing patterns. These include technological advances, demand and distribution trends, marginalization and equity issues, and problems in governance (Finkbeiner et al., ; Steneck, ; Toth & Szigeti, ). Notwithstanding extensive evidence of overexploitation in numerous fisheries globally and declines in total global landings (Costello et al., ; Pauly & Zeller, ; Worm et al., ), many political leaders and fisheries authorities have continued to promote investments in fishing fleet capacity, with the expectation of increasing the contributions of fishing to national economies (Bell, Watson, & Ye, ; Notimex, ; Pais, ).…”

Navigating a just and inclusive path towards sustainable oceans

“…A critical missing element in many fisheries management decisions has been the lack of consideration of equity, or the distributional impacts of decisions, over both the short and long term [40,41]. This omission can produce unintended social consequences such as undermining the rights and access, historical tenure, traditional livelihoods and the food security needs of small-scale fishers and coastal communities [42][43][44]. By now, we are also well aware of the widespread "slavery scandals" that have infiltrated global seafood supply chains [45].…”

Environmental Stewardship: A Conceptual Review and Analytical Framework

“…For example, in fisheries, more advanced or innovative technology (physical capital) might function as a "double-edged sword" leading either to overfishing (e.g., through more efficient gears) or to more sustainable harvesting of resources (e.g., through gears that reduce by-catch) (Finkbeiner et al 2017). Similarly, access to additional financial resources might be used to develop alternative livelihoods thus reducing pressure on resources or be re-invested in increased capacity and intensification of fishing activities (Allison and Ellis 2001;Torell et al 2010).…”