Sustainable Fishing Post-Pandemic: How Technology is Driving Change
By: Madison Mossman
Tags: Oceans, Mexico, Fishing, Sustainable Development, Food

Fishing at sunset. Photo via Phil Dimashq

No matter what winter feels like in San Diego, nothing beats the warm dose of Vitamin D that I feel in the morning as I drag my kayak and five-pound fishing pole down to the Carlsbad Lagoon. While many of us remain in various stages of the stay-at-home mandates issued worldwide, fishing has given me plenty of opportunities to spend some time out in nature and celebrate the ocean for all the beautiful things it has to offer. On top of that, one of the most powerful parts of the sport is the shared emotions of catching (or not catching) a fish that creates a strong sense of purpose for many people who are yearning for meaningful relationships during this unprecedented time.

Nonetheless, the sport has also enabled me to filter out unnecessary aspects of my life and concentrate on everything that is — whether its day-to-day happiness or life-changing decisions. While the majority of society spends most of their time subconsciously scrolling through their social media or directing their attention to mood-boosting apps during COVID-19, the actual act of fishing and being “in the zone” has given me the chance to reflect on the ways in which the pandemic has had substantial impacts on small-scale fisheries, the seafood supply chain and coastal communities globally.

Although COVID-19 has brought many disruptions throughout the economy, recent research indicates that the virus has unleashed an economic tsunami on the $150 billion global seafood market due to the travel restrictions and mandatory closures of the food and hotel industries, as well as the decline in international travel. Unfortunately, the consequences of the pandemic are more severe for small-scale fishing communities who are ill-equipped to cope with the falling demand, disrupted supply chains and shady practices of large vessels that put them at a disadvantage.

Amid all of this, I spent a prolonged period of time outdoors thinking of ways in which I can create a more equitable future for small-scale fisheries and reshape seafood sales during the pandemic. However, in order for me to make a difference in the lives and economic wellbeing of coastal communities, I found that the secret weapon lies within the power of consumers and the transparency of retailers. By adopting sustainable fishing methods and creating greater demand for sustainable seafood, consumers can shape the industry for the better by putting more cash in locals’ pockets and guaranteeing that there will be populations of aquatic wildlife for future generations.

While some COVID-19 stimulus packages have been designed to recover land-based industries, little exploration is being done for bluer modes of operations, which is why I wanted to extrapolate upon ways in which technology has positively impacted the bottom line of small-scale fisheries and helped them gain more clients through traceability. Consider, for example, Del Pacifico, a socially and environmentally responsible wholesaler of quality seafood. In the Gulf of Mexico, Del Pacifico had witnessed its retail grow enough to cover 25% of stock that it would typically sell to restaurants due to solar-powered trackers that enabled prospective customers to scope out the fish after leaving the water.

A fisherman near Guaymas, Mexico pulling in a rockfish. Photo via Tom Fowlks

Additionally, with the creation of smartphone apps such as Abalobi, small-scale fishing communities throughout South America can now sell high-quality seafood directly to restaurants that have remained open while contributing to the long-term ecological improvement of marine ecosystems. What is more, social enterprises like SmartFish International have directed their attention to improving the social and environmental future of artisanal fishing in Guaymas, Mexico by empowering families to catch seafood sustainably and sell them to gourmet consumer sectors. As a result, anglers have the potential to make double while catching less than half and helping their wives earn new wages processing their fish. Thus, through the advancement of technology, small-scale fishing communities are able to enter new markets, fish more sustainably and empower consumers to make better purchasing decisions regarding the types of Fair Trade seafood they consume.

ABALOBI is an African-based social enterprise and fisher-driven mobile app that is used to transform the governance of small-scale fisheries. Photo via ABALOBI

All in all, while the crisis has rippled through the ocean economy and severely damaged the fishing industry, it has given us the chance to adapt and create innovative solutions capable of enhancing the economic wellbeing of local communities and generating greener livelihoods for all. As is illustrated, the rise of technology has acted as a powerful accelerator for sustainability and inclusion while largely improving business insights. Although Big Data and mobile apps by themselves cannot solve the global fishing crisis, they can serve as a catalytic element in transforming the fishing industry and providing consumers more information on sustainable seafood choices. By all means, this pivotal moment presents an opportunity for businesses and consumers to rethink the ways in which we interact with nature and reshape an economy that thrives in harmony with the ocean.