The Vancouver Sun reports yesterday on a paper by the Sea Around Us project’s Jennifer Jacquet and co-authored by Rashid Sumaila of the Fisheries Economics Research Unit. Coverage by that news organization is just one of several who have picked up on the story that consumer awareness programs, such as the Marine Stewardship Council’s product certification program, haven’t been effective in curbing the increasing rate of overfishing around the globe.

The central issue in this article is that of the fishmeal trade, where thousands of tonnes of fish are caught and fed to livestock each year. The authors suggest that the practice of using fish to feed livestock is undermining efforts to provide sufficient nourishment to humans. The authors point out that this may be especially true in places like Peru who produce nearly half the world’s fishmeal yet a quarter of Peruvian infants are classified as malnourished.

Propositions that consumers ‘vote-with-their-wallet’ may not practically hold up because, as the authors argue, consumer awareness campaigns often confuse shoppers. Furthermore, these campaigns can be undermined by aforementioned issues surrounding the fishmeal trade. The authors conclude that the conservation movement must emphasize strategies that bring together consumers, producers, and government initiatives.

See the Oryx journal to read the full article.