A recent study by the University of Oxford has shown that fears of illegal fishing in protected ocean zones may be over-exaggerated.
The study used satellite data of illegal fishing activities in the protected waters near Ascension Island, a remote British overseas territory in the South Atlantic and home to nearly 200 fish species including big-eyed tuna, yellowfin tuna, albacore tuna, and swordfish. Fishing is only legal in a controlled area north of the island to vessels with a license.
The study spanned over three years from January 2014 to March 2017, and only observed three vessels engaging in illegal fishing. It was published in the journal Marine Policy and will be used to help make decisions in the formal designation process of a Marine Protected Area within Ascension Island’s Exclusive Economic Zone sometime this year.
“Our study demonstrates a willingness for vessel operators to move their activities outside of Ascension Island waters – this is positive news for those advocating marine protection in the region,” said Dr. Gwilym Rowlands of the Oxford Martin Sustainable Oceans Program and Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford, who served as a lead author on a paper describing the study in the scientific journal Marine Policy.
Researchers acknowledged that vigilance and continued satellite monitoring would have to be combined with vessel patrols to curb illegal fishing moving forward, especially in areas more accessible than distant Ascension Island.
The study’s findings are likely to come into play in the future as 10 percent of the world’s oceans may be marine reserves by 2020 if United Nations goals are met. Currently, more than 27 million square kilometers (7 percent) of the oceans are classified as Marine Protection Areas.
Photo courtesy of Ascension Island Government
