Catalyzing fisheries conservation investment
Timothy Fitzgerald, Phoebe Higgins, E. Quilligan, Suresh A. Sethi, John Tobin‐de la Puente
Abstract
Wild‐caught fish account for approximately one‐half of all seafood consumed globally, yet there is strong evidence that improved science and management are needed to ensure the biological, economic, and social sustainability of this critical food source. Presently, insufficient resources are allocated to achieve such sustainability, but conservation finance offers promising new sources of funding for this necessary endeavor. We surveyed the most recent literature on conservation finance and interviewed practitioners to identify key obstacles and solutions to advancing fisheries conservation investments. We found that obstacles constraining these investments are also common in other, more mature conservation sectors. Solutions developed in these sectors – namely, capacity building, novel investment vehicles, increased communication among stakeholders, and better metrics – could help to overcome barriers to investment. As fisheries sustainability improvements require cooperation across the sciences, business, and finance communities, we hope this article will spur interest among these diverse stakeholders and catalyze fisheries conservation investment.