Climate change strengthens the case for a high seas fishing ban

Abstract

Calls to ban high seas fishing have long been justified on biodiversity, economic, equity, and carbon mitigation grounds. A new study reports that even under a low emission climate change scenario, approximately 22% of straddling fish stocks may shift out of exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and into international waters by 2030. Here, we suggest that this projected redistribution strengthens the case for a ban because the high seas could serve as a biodiversity refuge for migrating species, prevent inequitable capture of displaced resources by wealthy distant-water fleets (DWF), and avert a carbon-intensive escalation of long-distance fishing.