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New research demonstrates that seagrass meadows are important fishing grounds all around the globe. The work highlights that there is an urgent need to start appreciating and understanding this role to be able to build more sustainable fisheries. A study led by Dr Lina Mtwana Nordlund at Stockholm University, published in the scientific journal Fish Fisheries, examines the global extent to which these underwater meadows support fishing activity.
“If there is seagrass and people there is most certainly fishing. It doesn’t matter if it is a country with high or low human development, fishing occurs. But the reasons for fishing and the target species vary” says Dr Nordlund who is based at Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science at Stockholm University in Sweden.
In countries with a low human development index score seagrass fishery activity tends to target anything one can find that can be eaten, sold or used as bait. These seagrass fisheries have a major significance for daily food supply and livelihoods. In countries with a very high human development index score, seagrass fisheries are more commonly recreational with specific species targeted, such as clams. The research highlights that nearly every type of fishing gear is used within seagrass fisheries.
Read more at Stockholm University
Image: In many places in the world fishers still, utilize spearfishing as a subsistence means of catching food. The Bajo of SE Asia is an indigenous group who still commonly practice such activity in Wakatobi, Indonesia. (Credit: Photo: Richard Unsworth)
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