Ocean biodiversity is at a tipping point, but innovation and sustainable fishing offer hope, with a UN High Seas Treaty offering opportunity to scale up protection.
Scientists from every inhabited continent have issued a stark warning: ocean biodiversity is in decline, and urgent action is needed. But they have also expressed optimism, with New Zealand fisheries among those leading the way with sustainable fishing practices that are driving ocean recovery.
As World Ocean Day (8 June) approaches, the findings are part of a new global survey by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), analysed by GlobeScan, with views from 58 leading ocean scientists. It revealed more than two-thirds identified climate change as the greatest threat to ocean health, followed by overfishing and habitat loss. Although 21% were pessimistic about the future resilience of our ocean, and 34% unsure, nearly half (45%) remain optimistic, pointing to better science, policy, and management as the way forward.
Treaty will play a vital role
Ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference in France (9–13 June), the MSC is hoping the New Zealand government will ratify the High Seas Treaty, which seeks to protect biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The treaty will play a vital role in achieving the global target to protect 30% of the world’s coastal and marine areas by 2030, a key aim shared in the recently released documentary ‘Ocean’ with David Attenborough.
New Zealand signed the treaty in September 2023 but has yet to ratify it and enshrine it in law. So far, 21 countries have done so, short of the 60 needed for it to come into force.
Dr Beth Polidoro, Research Director at the MSC, said: “There is a consensus from scientists across the world that our oceans are under threat from human impact whether that is through overfishing or the ongoing threat of climate change.
“What is positive, is that we are still in a place to change the trajectory, halt these negative impacts and ensure healthy oceans full of life for future generations.
“Fisheries already demonstrating this commitment must be supported, and governments need to provide an enabling environment so that positive progress can be accelerated globally.”
World’s oceans are the lifeblood of our planet
Dr Richard O’Driscoll, Chief Scientist – Fisheries at NIWA, said: “The world’s oceans are the lifeblood of our planet and support immense biodiversity, much of it still to be discovered. But they are under growing pressure from climate change, pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction, all of which are deeply interconnected.
“We’ve seen that with the right management, fish stocks can recover, both in New Zealand and internationally. But, as well as managing fisheries, we also need to tackle threats from land-based sources like sedimentation and runoff, which damage marine habitats.
“I’m optimistic because our oceans have shown they can bounce back. We’ve documented remarkable resilience in seabed habitats after extreme events like the Kaikōura earthquake and Cyclone Gabrielle. But recovery is not guaranteed, it depends on striking the right balance between conservation and use.”
The MSC’s new report, Preserving Ocean Life: How Sustainable Fishing Supports Biodiversity, showcases fisheries around the world that are reducing their environmental impact, from helping to preserve porpoises in the Celtic Sea to turtles in the Indian Ocean.
Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, writes in the report’s foreword: “These inspiring stories show that biodiversity protection and sustainable seafood production are two sides of the same coin.”
New Zealand offers compelling examples of this dual benefit in action. The albacore tuna troll fishery, operating in coastal waters from North Cape to the bottom of the South Island, is a low-impact surface fishery that targets only adult tuna. It has no bycatch of seabirds, sharks or turtles and leaves seabed habitats untouched.
The New Zealand hoki fishery, first whitefish fishery in the world to be MSC certified, has made 13 improvements since certification, including the use of science-based harvest strategies and innovations in gear to reduce bycatch of seabirds and marine mammals.
Four fisheries accounting for 45% of fish landings in New Zealand are certified to the MSC’s environmental standard for sustainable fishing. Recording 46 improvements to date, they are audited annually to ensure healthy fish populations, ecosystem integrity and strong management.
According to the MSC, marine biodiversity refers to the rich variety of life in our ocean. From the smallest plankton to the largest whales, it is essential for the health of the planet, providing food, livelihoods, oxygen, and climate regulation that humanity depends on.
Key facts
- 38% of the worlds fish stocks are overfished
- Consumption of aquatic animals has risen from 9.1kg per capita in 1961 to 20.7kg in 2022 (State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture Report)
- Extinction rates are currently 100 to 1,000 times higher than the natural baseline rate, a trend that is accelerating (Dasgupta Review, 2021)
- Research shows wild-caught fish populations targeted by MSC certified fisheries have higher relative abundance than non-MSC populations
