Most fish consumers support a ban on fishing endangered species, poll finds
Support was strongest in Latin America Image: REUTERS/David Loh
- 77% of adults who buy seafood regularly support a ban on the fishing of endangered species
- 73% support an end to government subsidies that lead to overfishing or illegal fishing
- Sir David Attenborough has called for an end to harmful fishing subsidies
A new global survery has found significant public support for a ban on the fishing of endangered species.
The survey, commissioned by the World Economic Forum and conducted by Ipsos, found that more than three-quarters (77%) of adults who regularly buy seafood support a ban.
A similar number also support an end to government subsidies that lead to overfishing or illegal fishing (73%).
There was also wide support for banning shops and restaurants from selling endangered species of fish - 77%.
What's the World Economic Forum doing about the ocean?
A third of the world's fish is harvested at biologically unsustainable levels.
Combine this with the millions of people who rely on seafood for their livelihoods and food security and the extent of the problem becomes clear.
It's not only the public who support tackling the problem.
Last month, Sir David Attenborough called for an end to harmful fishing subsidies in a video created by the Friends of Ocean Action, the World Economic Forum and the WWF.
But, the good news is that 2017 research from the World Bank found that 'fishing less, but better', could generate an additional $83 billion every year for the industry.
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