The seafood industry must be cautious of the opposition
By Eugene Lapointe
Publish date: August 24, 2000

Recent articles appearing throughout the seafood industry regarding the relationship of commercial fisheries and the industry to its recreational counterparts and environmental or "green" NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are encouraging. However, the industry must beware entrusting its future to "charming" opponents from these environmental groups.

First, let me establish my credentials. For nearly a decade, I served as the United Nation’s chief official charged with balancing the needs of the environment with those of trade. Now, I continue a lifetime of passionate compassion for the earth as president of the foremost consortium of conservation professionals advocating environmentally sound, sustainable use of nature’s resources, IWMC – World Conservation Trust, and as a trustee of the World Conservation Trust Foundation’s fisheries committee.

From that vantage, I’ve gained a unique perspective on the methods and motives of environmental groups now focusing their attention and agendas on commercial fisheries issues.

Without malice but with the utmost seriousness, I strongly urge the seafood industry and commercial fisheries of the world to beware of underestimating your opposition, particularly those who present themselves as "friendly" and willing to "compromise." Mine is not unlike the warning in Francis Ford Coppola’s "The Godfather" to beware of those closest to you.

Environmental groups – regardless of their appearance of moderation and persuasive attempts to portray themselves as friends and allies – operate from agendas completely opposite to that of commercial fisheries. That is especially true in the area of eco-labeling. And statements they issue regarding their motives or goals rarely track with fact. In my opinion, trust is no virtue and almost never honored among these groups.

Take, for example, the Atlantic swordfish campaign. One group says, "Oh, we’re not against swordfish on restaurant menus, only Atlantic swordfish." Meanwhile longliners in the Pacific are halted in their pursuit of swordfish in that ocean by NGO-initiated court challenges based on alleged threats to sea turtles.

Dividing to conquer has become a high art form as orchestrated by green groups. Shrimp trawlers in the Gulf of Mexico are told by "friendly" NGOs that they must fight foreign-farmed imports. Meanwhile other NGO colleagues work to shut down the trawlers via increased regulations and "no fishing zones" (again to protect sea turtles). Pick the commercially sought species and NGOs will counter with a "threatened" species of marine mammal or sea bird to idle fishermen and disrupt the industry.

These same NGOs are behind the scenes fueling the feud between commercial and recreational fisheries. They push regulatory bodies such as the National Marine Fisheries Service to tighten regulatory strictures on commercial fishermen, then rush to the courts with tales that NMFS is harming marine species by coddling fishermen.

Certainly dialogue is important to any human endeavor. Conserving the world’s marine resources is no different. However, vilifying the men and women who risk their lives in pursuit of food from the sea is not dialogue. And believing that realistic and effective solutions to problems confronting commercial fisheries, aquaculture and seafood interests will arise from ceding one’s birthright to groups who have no intention of keeping their word is naive, futile, and counterproductive. The salvation of the seafood industry lies within itself.