La Central

Sea fishing is as old as mankind, and has always made a vital contribution to our food security. In recent times, however, this activity is being challenged by extreme environmental conservationism and, perhaps, by opaque interests. Increasingly, there are calls for consumers to stop eating fish in order to "save the oceans". Fishing produces the world's healthiest animal protein and has a lower carbon footprint and impact on biodiversity than many other land-based food production systems. The fight against hunger, malnutrition and food security is not won. It will require the involvement of all sources of food, and responsible and well-managed fisheries have a key role to play. It is true that fisheries, like agriculture, must continue to evolve to become more sustainable and reduce their impact on ecosystems, and the evidence shows that this is possible. But in a world with more than eight billion people, giving up such an extraordinary source of animal protein for an unrealistic environmental objective, and entrusting our food security to certain supposedly miraculous solutions without a social conscience, looks like strategic suicide. Let us not make that mistake.