The ocean is essential to life on our planet, and protecting its ecosystems requires us to adjust how we live and work.
Just like its 1960s counterpart, fish farming’s “Blue Revolution” promised to dramatically boost global food production and thus relieve hunger. Unfortunately, however, many fear it will damage wild fisheries and cause a devastating decline in global seafood supplies.
The Future of Seafood
Seafood is one of the healthiest sources of protein available, while also having low carbon emissions. The challenge lies in providing its benefits while mitigating population growth and ocean warming impacts.
Research has outlined the key ingredients necessary for creating a sustainable seafood future. One promising approach is developing “blue food systems,” in which seafood production, distribution and consumption are fully integrated with ocean management and policy-making. This involves addressing issues like ecosystem change, governance and corporate influence as well as productivity and sustainability concerns associated with wild and mariculture fisheries.
Reaching these goals may not be straightforward. Some scientists worry that expanding coastal fish farming will erode wild seafood by further depleting marine habitats; on the other hand, experts state that if aquaculture can be managed responsibly it could serve as an invaluable tool for feeding humanity while combatting climate change.
Seafood will become an important source of protein in the future. This trend will be determined by a host of global drivers such as nutrition research, consumer preferences and technological trends.
Future seafood production will be more eco-friendly and diverse than ever before, thanks to new technologies which will reduce energy use when fishing for fish, target less susceptible to overfishing species, and put fewer boats into the water. People will choose more affordable fish options that meet both taste and health considerations – which should all contribute towards a more diverse supply of seafood for our table.
The key drivers affecting seafood’s future and our relationships with it include six overarching aspects:
Ocean governance is an essential driver, with clear rules established that ensure sustainable use of seafood resources without overfishing, prioritizing small-scale fishing and women in ocean management and decision-making, banning harmful subsidies and aligning environmental, economic and food security goals with one another.
The Future of Fishing
Demand for seafood has skyrocketed, along with threats to marine wildlife populations. Fisheries are depleting fish and shellfish populations worldwide and, unless we act quickly to stop fishing, could trigger a global fish crisis within five years. We possess the tools available to us in order to save both our oceans and climate from this fate.
Sustainable fishing is essential in a world that relies heavily on seafood as an indispensable source of protein and livelihoods, but achieving it requires innovative solutions that redefine rules of engagement for both industrial and small-scale fishermen, and an alteration in attitudes and values among consumers globally.
One of the greatest challenges lies in dispelling the myth that conservation and economics must compete for resources, resulting in many false starts in saving our oceans. Raising awareness about why ocean conservation matters should be our first step toward saving them.
One of the key challenges is surmounting the lack of financial and technical capacity that has hindered effective conservation in the field. Without sufficient tools, governments may impose regulations without regard for scientific evidence that fail to manage fisheries effectively or completely fail at managing them at all.
Good news is that entrepreneurs have begun to meet these challenges head on by modernizing the industry. A new generation of fishermen are shifting away from unrestrained wild hunting towards controlled harvesting and farming for maximum value – an approach which has already proven its worth in certain parts of the world, such as in the US.
New Bedford fishing vessels, for instance, are now being fitted with sensors that monitor ocean environments as well as technology to avoid bycatch. These innovations are changing the fishing industry from an old model of exploitation into one that promotes sustainability, efficiency and transparency; creating a better future for our oceans as well as our economy – yet more needs to be done globally to achieve it.
The Future of Agriculture
Fishermen and farmers alike are vulnerable to the same forces at play in our oceans. Both rely on an intricate web of natural and man-made variables for their work, yet many lack the technological means necessary to turn that complexity into useful data. Luckily, technology is evolving to support them in doing just this.
Tomorrow’s agriculture will rely on robotics, sensing technology, machine learning and digital platforms. Drones will gather imagery for farmers with bird’s-eye views of their fields while simultaneously reducing labor costs. Sensors will detect any changes to soil moisture or temperature that might be impacting yields while providing targeted applications of nutrients and pesticides to keep crops healthy.
Carbon sequestration will also help combat climate change directly. When European settlers plowed North American prairies, they unleashed vast underground stores of carbon. And as land conversion continues today, synthetic fertilizer, diesel-hungry farm equipment, and methane-belching livestock all emit greenhouse gases – accounting for 10% of climate-altering emissions annually in the US alone!
To combat that, more and better regenerative farming will be necessary, including land restoration and protection. Replanting trees that absorb carbon from the atmosphere into various ecosystems–from forests to pastures and wetlands–and shifting towards more diverse crops which help stabilize soils by decreasing over-fertilization will all play a part.
Policy changes will also be necessary. USDA programs should make it easier for small farmers to gain access to funding for renewable energy systems and energy-efficiency upgrades, while federal policy should encourage farmers to preserve more land by making eligibility for crop insurance and subsidies contingent upon not converting natural forest or grassland into food fields – thus further decreasing carbon emissions into the air by humans.
The Future of Jobs
Future jobs will be more creative, satisfying, and meaningful for workers than those of today. Workers will feel empowered and autonomous as companies prioritize social responsibility and fair pay – placing greater value on real world work portfolios rather than degrees or certifications.
Future trends also point towards changing employee expectations, particularly among Gen Z workers. Gen Z employees want flexible schedules and meaningful jobs that help make a difference; diverse workforce; flexible scheduling. Companies will need to adapt and embrace technology to remain competitive.
As the world works toward meeting its climate change goals, it will need to rapidly create sources of clean energy, reduce excessive energy consumption and protect natural ecosystems such as rainforests. Furthermore, oceans must remain free from human interference – this includes protecting marine wildlife while ending unsustainable fishing practices such as bottom-trawling that uses huge metal nets to scrape across seabeds, killing hundreds of fish while injuring or killing other marine life.
“Blue Carbon” offers another promising solution by capturing and storing carbon dioxide in ocean and coastal ecosystems like mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows – helping slow climate change while creating jobs and reaping economic rewards.
Nonprofits and NGOs are working tirelessly to save the oceans, offering various ways for individuals to help. Even taking small steps such as volunteering to clean up local beaches can have a lasting effect.
Other than supporting nonprofits and NGOs, there are other steps people can take to help save the oceans and support local communities. They could support sustainable seafood by purchasing products certified as ethically harvested. They could also join a conservation group in order to learn about issues facing our oceans and take actions necessary for protection.
Nicholas Sullivan is an author and editor who specializes in the impact of technology on international development. In his most recent book, The Blue Revolution, he explores how technological innovation is revolutionizing New England fishing and maritime industries as well as across America.
