Sudden ban on fish discards could harm ecosystems – researchers

Sea birds, dolphins, crabs and sharks are among the species that could suffer if commercial fishers abruptly stopped discarding their unwanted catches, research shows. An international study led by The University of Queensland has found that a gradual reduction – over two decades or more – in the practice is the best way to allow a marine ecosystem to recover its natural balance. Esther Fondo, a PhD student and the study’s lead author, said a range of predator species were reliant on discarded fish – dead and alive – as a food source. Read the rest here 10:33

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.