fishery and aquaculture
PROTECT SEAS AND PONDS
goal
100% of seafood comes from sustainable sources by 2030. All seafood sources are certified.
Europe imports nearly twice as much seafood as it produces. In 2019, total fishery and aquaculture production in the EU amounted to 5.1 million tonnes, while 9.5 million tonnes were imported.
Europe’s seafood consumption has environmental and social impacts worldwide. More than a third of global fish stocks are exploited beyond sustainable levels. Overfishing is a major threat to marine ecosystems – where vertebrate populations have fallen by half since 1970 – and to the millions of people who depend on them for their livelihoods and as a primary source of protein.
The growing importance of aquaculture also brings sustainability challenges at sea and on land. Production from wild-capture fisheries has remained relatively static since the late 1980s. The continuing growth in seafood consumption has been made possible by aquaculture.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Ensure that all sources are covered by relevant certification schemes. Source certified material with no conditions or good progress towards closing conditions.
ADVOCACY PRIORITIES
Advocate for the development of criteria for the sustainable management of freshwater fish ponds.
EXPLORE THE OTHER PRINCIPLES
resource library
wwf reports and case studies
about wwf
WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
As a member of the WWF global network, WWF-CEE exists to promote WWF’s mission across seven countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Member organizations include WWF-Bulgaria, WWF-Hungary, WWF-Romania, WWF-Slovakia, WWF-Ukraine and WWF in Czechia.
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