Raising alarm about the declining state of the world’s oceans, a new report states that many countries are turning to aquaculture (fish farming) to meet global demand for seafood.

Statistics of OECD countries have revealed a decline in fisheries due to an increase in global population and wealth levels resulting in higher consumption of seafood. Adding to overfishing is the fact that coastal waters are polluted, affecting the capacity of the oceans to maintain a healthy marine life.

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation (OECD) 'Review of Fisheries' in 2015, the challenge for fisheries management is rebuilding stock. It stated that many countries have turned to aquaculture to meet demand and that aquaculture is now the fastest growing food commodity instead of capture fisheries, and is becoming very important for human consumption.  

Currently, aquaculture production is centered in the People’s Republic of China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh (non OECD countries), accounting for 80% of global production, while OECD countries of Norway, Chile, Japan, Korea and the US account for only 6 percent.

In addition to aquaculture, many countries have implemented fisheries policies to limit marine catches in their waters. Indonesia has gone a step further in its policy by ordering the dynamiting of foreign vessels illegally entering their waters. Since the approval of its policy in December 2014, some 41 vessels have been destroyed.

Overfishing

It is reported that wild catch has fallen precipitately from overfishing, while oceanic acidification from carbon pollution endangers the reproduction of shellfish, corals and other marine organisms.

Indonesia and China between them account for nearly one quarter of global fish harvest and China’s steady economic growth has meant that annual consumption of seafood in its cities rose by 41 percent between 2000 and 2011.

Tonga

Meanwhile, the marine wildlife in Tonga’s waters also shows signs of declining consistent with the current global situation, according to a MAFFF report in July 2014.

The Tonga National Aquaculture Management and Development Plan (2014-19) recommended developing commercial aquaculture for Tonga, and outlined steps to aid in restocking marine life and contribute to economic development.

Foreign vessels

However, according to Tonga’s Fisheries Department Quarterly Report of January-March 2015, there has been an increase in marine products exported internationally from wild catch compared to the same quarters of the previous two years. The total quantity of marine products (excluding acquarium) exported in the first quarter of 2015 was 251 metric tons. This was a 108% increase on the same period in 2014 and 40% up on the previous quarter exports.

At the same time, Tonga’s tuna exports have increased substantially with a 152% increase from the same quarter last year and 143% from the previous quarter. The Fisheries Department stated that the significant increase was due to an additional foreign fishing vessel entering the tuna fishery.