Overfishing is draining Southeast Asia’s oceans. When fish are caught at a rate faster than their population grows, it wreaks havoc not only on the species, but the ecosystem and global food supply as well. According to the ASEAN Studies Center, Southeast Asia supplies over a quarter of the world’s fish. Meeting this growing demand has created a strain on supply, with some resorting to IUU fishing. Illegal, unregulated, unreported methods include poison fishing, blast fishing, and bottom trawling.
Fortunately, the technology to implement and spread sustainable practices without negatively impacting the local economy is already developed. What the region needs now are investors to help close the gap between current practices and the future of fishing. Nowhere in Southeast Asia are the stakes of overfishing higher than The Coral Triangle and the Mekong River.
The Coral Triangle
The Coral Triangle is home to over 500 species of fish and lies between Indonesia, the Philippines, Papa New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. As the most biodiverse marine environment in the world, the Coral Triangle is a major source of seafood-derived products for the region and the only reef designated as a UNESCO heritage. The conservation of the Coral Triangle is paramount, and regional stakeholders are addressing threats such as overfishing and habitat loss.
Still, opposing interests that put profit over conservation have made it difficult to enforce policies that follow established scientific guidelines while balancing the interests of stakeholders, resulting in weak management. Sustainable growth and investment are the keys to ensuring this precious habitat is protected while still supporting the people who rely on it as their livelihoods.
The Mekong River
The Mekong River is shared by six countries and provides economic resources to millions of people. But the river and those who rely on it are in trouble due to overfishing and habitat degradation from climate change and man-made structures.
The regional organizations and governments are attempting to set rules and regulations to restore the river; however, the Mekong River Commission points out that there is a huge disparity between identifying the issues and the government addressing the issues. New investment in the region would bridge this gap by working with the community and governments to bring bustling life and prosperity back to the banks of the Mekong River.
