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Systematic distortions in world fisheries catch trends

Author

Listed:
  • Reg Watson

    (Fisheries Centre, 2204 Main Mall, University of British Columbia)

  • Daniel Pauly

    (Fisheries Centre, 2204 Main Mall, University of British Columbia)

Abstract

Over 75% of the world marine fisheries catch (over 80 million tonnes per year) is sold on international markets, in contrast to other food commodities (such as rice)1,2. At present, only one institution, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) maintains global fisheries statistics. As an intergovernmental organization, however, FAO must generally rely on the statistics provided by member countries, even if it is doubtful that these correspond to reality. Here we show that misreporting by countries with large fisheries, combined with the large and widely fluctuating catch of species such as the Peruvian anchoveta, can cause globally spurious trends. Such trends influence unwise investment decisions by firms in the fishing sector and by banks, and prevent the effective management of international fisheries.

Suggested Citation

  • Reg Watson & Daniel Pauly, 2001. "Systematic distortions in world fisheries catch trends," Nature, Nature, vol. 414(6863), pages 534-536, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:414:y:2001:i:6863:d:10.1038_35107050
    DOI: 10.1038/35107050
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    Cited by:

    1. Neira, Sergio & Moloney, Coleen & Shannon, Lynne J. & Christensen, Villy & Arancibia, Hugo & Jarre, Astrid, 2014. "Assessing changes in the southern Humboldt in the 20th century using food web models," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 278(C), pages 52-66.
    2. Giné, Xavier & Martinez-Bravo, Monica & Vidal-Fernández, Marian, 2017. "Are labor supply decisions consistent with neoclassical preferences? Evidence from Indian boat owners," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 331-347.
    3. Pemsl, D.E. & Bose, M.L., 2008. "Recommendation domains for pond aquaculture: country case study: development and status of freshwater aquaculture in Henan Province, China," Monographs, The WorldFish Center, number 38122, April.
    4. Eisenbarth, Sabrina, 2022. "Do exports of renewable resources lead to resource depletion? Evidence from fisheries," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    5. Bailey, Jennifer, 2016. "Adventures in cross-disciplinary studies: Grand strategy and fisheries management," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 18-27.
    6. Jason Venetoulis & John Talberth, 2008. "Refining the ecological footprint," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 10(4), pages 441-469, August.
    7. James Hilger & Eric Hallstein & Andrew W. Stevens & Sofia B. Villas-Boas, 2019. "Measuring Willingness to Pay for Environmental Attributes in Seafood," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 73(1), pages 307-332, May.
    8. U. Sumaila & A. Marsden & Reg Watson & Daniel Pauly, 2007. "A Global Ex-vessel Fish Price Database: Construction and Applications," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 39-51, April.
    9. Junbo Zhang & Daisuke Kitazawa & Chenxing Yang, 2016. "A numerical modeling approach to support decision-making on design of integrated multitrophic aquaculture for efficiently mitigating aquatic waste," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 21(8), pages 1247-1261, December.
    10. Evangelos Tzanatos & Dionysios Raitsos & George Triantafyllou & Stylianos Somarakis & Anastasios Tsonis, 2014. "Indications of a climate effect on Mediterranean fisheries," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 122(1), pages 41-54, January.
    11. Gianluca Ferraro & Marleen Brans, 2012. "Trade‐offs between environmental protection and economic development in China's fisheries policy: A political analysis on the adoption and implementation of the Fisheries Law 2000," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 36(1), pages 38-49, February.
    12. Shen, Gongming & Heino, Mikko, 2014. "An overview of marine fisheries management in China," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 265-272.
    13. Eggert, Håkan & Tveterås, Ragnar, 2004. "Potential Rent and Overcapacity in the Swedish Baltic Sea Trawl Fishery," Working Papers in Economics 152, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    14. Jacques, Peter J., 2015. "Are world fisheries a global panarchy?," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 165-170.
    15. Sitsofe Tsagbey & Miguel de Carvalho & Garritt L. Page, 2017. "All Data are Wrong, but Some are Useful? Advocating the Need for Data Auditing," The American Statistician, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 71(3), pages 231-235, July.
    16. Hallstein, Eric & Villas-Boas, Sofia B., 2013. "Can household consumers save the wild fish? Lessons from a sustainable seafood advisory," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 52-71.
    17. TAKARADA Yasuhiro, 2009. "Transboundary Renewable Resource and International Trade," Discussion papers 09041, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    18. Dana Miller & Stefano Mariani, 2013. "Irish fish, Irish people: roles and responsibilities for an emptying ocean," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 529-546, April.
    19. Trond Bjørndal & Daniel Gordon & Mintewab Bezabih, 2012. "Measuring potential profits in a bioeconomic model of the mixed demersal fishery in the North Sea," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 147-166, July.

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