Overfished Reefs

The amount of seafood caught commercially in and around coral reefs pales in comparison to that harvested from the open oceans. Yet coral reef fisheries aren’t small potatoes for millions of people worldwide — both the fishermen who depend on the catch for their livelihood, and coastal communities where the food is an important protein source.

Coral reefs are generally considered to be overfished, however, and a new analysis shows just how bleak the situation is. The study, by Katie Newton of the University of East Anglia in England and colleagues, concludes that the majority of coral reef fisheries are unsustainable; fish, crustaceans and mollusks are being harvested at a faster rate than they are being replenished.

The researchers analyzed data for 49 small island countries and territories from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Bigger countries like Australia were excluded because it was more difficult to differentiate between reef catch and other sources of seafood.

Comparing the data with an estimated maximum sustainable annual yield of 13 metric tons per square mile of reef, the researchers found that 55 percent of the fisheries — including those in the Philippines, Madagascar and Jamaica — were unsustainable. The study will be published April 17 in Current Biology.

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