TalkScience - Fishing and marine protection: What's the catch?
Channel: British Library
Date: 2015-06-25

With an ever increasing appetite for fish how can we balance our daily demand with a sustainable supply? Ten per cent of the world's population depend on the fishing industry for their livelihoods. However, global overfishing has resulted in diminishing stocks and widespread environmental damage. With an ever increasing appetite for fish how can we balance our daily demand with a sustainable supply? What are the impacts of fishing on the marine environment? How do policies such as marine protected areas and fishing quotas affect sea-life and fishermen? Must conservation and consumption always be at odds? How will global environmental change affect our answers to these questions? Biologist, writer and broadcaster Dr. Helen Scales chairs the discussion at our 29th TalkScience event. Our expert panel includes marine conservation scientist and author Professor Callum Roberts; Barrie Deas, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations and Dr. Alasdair Harris, Executive Director of Blue Ventures.