Mixed Methods Research: Sustainable Fishing in the Business World

This report analyzes the crucial topic of sustainable fishing, highlighting the detrimental effects of overfishing on marine ecosystems and the importance of ethical practices. It emphasizes the role of consumers in driving change by making informed choices, advocating for sustainable seafood, and supporting businesses that prioritize responsible fishing methods. The report explores various fishing techniques, including both traditional and modern approaches, and discusses how consumers can influence the market by changing their shopping habits and supporting sustainable aquaculture. It also examines the complexities of fisheries management, the interests of different stakeholders (fishers, conservationists, and consumers), and the need for international cooperation to regulate fishing practices, particularly in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The report emphasizes that the consumer is in the best position to advocate for ethical fishing practices and can drive significant change in the seafood industry.

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Applying Mixed Methods Research to Business
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Introduction
Aquaculture and fisheries provide basic nutrition, food, and employment to many
individuals across the world. Globally, about 80 million tons of fish are harvested from capture
fisheries and another 26 million are gotten from marine aquaculture. This industry has employed
about 260 million people, most being small scale fishermen in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
Fish are important for food security, as they give around 3 billion people the much-needed
animal proteins. However, the intense exploitation of fish, especially in their natural habitat, has
facilitated widespread overfishing, with 90 percent of fish stocks being exploited maximumly
leading to overfishing. Overfishing has other dire implications such as the degradation of the
ecosystem and the destruction of natural habitat. It has been quite difficult for shareholders in the
fishing industry to strike a balance between economic gains, food production, and overall
sustainability of the fisheries ecosystem. Overall, several unethical fishing practices continue to
negatively affect the habitation and the ecosystem of fisheries. However, many states are
advocating for sustainable fishing practices to protect these aquatic species. Some of the states
have banned fishing in certain regions of their territorial waters and also advise the fishermen to
control their fishing practices. Additionally, the consumer is increasingly becoming aware of the
implications of unsustainable fishing practices, and there is a growing trend of sustainability that
is influencing contemporary consumer purchasing behavior.
Consumers of fish need to choose their purchase from sustainable and well-managed
fisheries. The consumer needs to understand where the fish comes from and the methods that
have been used to harvest the fish. The growing trends of sustainability in the world are
informing new practices, with consumers highly aware of the need to protect the marine
ecosystem and reduce overexploitation of fish (Retsikas 2017, 228). The consumer needs to

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understand what overfishing entails. This involves exploiting too many fish or fish species, or
fishing too much of one species in an area. This also involves the considerations of the whole
fish ecosystem and understanding that when fishing is done in adverse levels, it affects the whole
marine ecosystem. For example, there is an increase in lobster population on the east coast of the
Pacific, due to overfishing of its natural predator, the cod. There are various steps that the
consumer can take to influence the market and fishing practices. This includes advocating for
sustainable seafood. In an era of sustainability, the consumer should insist on only buying
products from the store that protect the environment and practices sustainable fishing methods
(Bastardie, et al. 2017, 332). Following the consumer concern, the stores communicate to their
distributors on the importance of sustainable fishing methods and this will help curb the
overexploitation of marine ecosystem. The consumer can additionally, influence the fish market
by changing shopping habits. Currently, the demand for Bluefin Tuna is high and this leads to
overfishing of that certain species. The consumer can change the type of fish they want and
incorporate other fish in their diets such as tilapia, salmons, and Nile perch. There has been
growing concerns over fish farming, and these confusions do not help the consumer in making
sustainable choices (Kirby, Candice and Quentin 2018, 135). Consumers have the obligation of
researching various aquaculture providers and only buying the fish from sources that practice
ethical and sustainable fishing methods (Fleming, et al. 2017, 100). The consumer should buy
products that are only marked with green or yellow labels, as this indicates that the source is
sustainable.
The advancement of technology and high demand for aquatic food by the consumer has
led to new fishing practices that are depleting the fish populations at a very high rate. Every year,
about 78 billion kilograms of marine creatures are harvested by fishermen around the world.

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According to scientists, the continuance of fishing using these methods will collapse the marine
ecosystems. Conservationist and economist are advocating for ethical and sustainable fishing
practices if we want to continue our reliance on the ocean as an important source of food. For
instance, the case of Bluefin Tuna is one which shows unethical fishing practices (Das, et al.
2018, 528). The fish is known for its delicious meat, which some cultures such as Japanese eat it
raw, like sushi. There is high demand for this particular fish which has resulted in high prices in
the market. This high demand has facilitated heavy commercial fishing for the bluefin tuna
which is consequently threatening its population. as of today, the bluefin tuna population has
dropped drastically, to an estimate of about 25 percent of its population in the 1970s (Eikeset, et
al. 2018, 177). commercial fisheries are using long lining and purse seining in fishing bluefin
tuna. Longlining fishing method involves using a long line about 100 kilometers long, and this is
dragged behind a boat. The lines constitute of baited hooks that stretch downwards. Purse
seining, on the other hand, uses a net to herd together fish, consequently enveloping them using
the net drawstrings (Society 2019). The net can scoop schools of fish at a time. Both longlining
and purse seining are efficient fishing methods that capture much fish at a time. This trend leaves
very few fishes in the ocean and this results in overfishing. This makes it hard for the remaining
population of the fish to replenish themselves through reproduction. Fishing in the south Atlantic
and South Pacific oceans are regulated by international agreements. However, unethical
fishermen and fisheries industries continue to exploit these areas since it is difficult to enforce
international laws. The high demand for fish especially in the United States has driven this illegal
overfishing practice. In the early 2000s, several American chefs formed a campaign on one
particular fish species, the Chilean sea Bass, to give it time to replenish due to its overfishing
(Digal and Shemaiah 2017, 32). The National Marine Fisheries is also regulating the importation

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of this fish into the united states. However, illegal fishing continues to happen. There is a need
for the individual consumer to be concerned with such unethical fishing practices, to ensure that
fish populations do not run to extinction. This is if, the consumer wants to continue relying on
oceans as a source of food.
Fisheries should engage in sustainable fishing practices that enables the consumer to
enjoy ocean food while at the same time ensuring the marine population is conserved. Many
indigenous cultures worldwide have fished sustainably for many years. In the Philippines, for
example, the Tagbanua community has been employing fishing practices that maintain the
population of the fish. The community fishing practices are controlled by annual season. They
fish for various species during specific times of the year, which is determined by the moon and
the tides and this gives the fish time to replenish (Collie, et al. 2017, 622). The community
additionally practice controlled fishing, whereby in areas such as coral reefs, fishing is
prohibited. They fish using the hook and line methods, enabling them to catch only what is
needed. A study carried in 2007, appreciated the fishing methods of Tagbanua, as their practices
prevented injury to other aquatic organisms by ensuring the do not get entangled, as the case
with modern fishing equipment such as longlines. The traditional Polynesian community of
South pacific also carried out ethical fishing practices. They mostly used spearfishing by crafting
a 6-foot spear (Ferrigno, Luca, Giovanni and Roberto 2017, 48). The fishermen would then dive
underwater and spear the fish above. This method targeted only specific fish needed. Some of the
traditional fishing methods such as spearfishing and cast-netting are still used in contemporary
times. Modern spearfishing has practiced the world over (Roheim, et al. 2018, 393). It is also
used as a recreational activity. This fishing method is sustainable as it catches one fish at a time
and reduces bycatch.

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Consumers of fish are in the best position to advocate for ethical fishing practices. The
consumer needs to buy their seafood from businesses that practice ethical fishing. This involves
practicing sustainable aquaculture operations that minimize pollution and damage to the
ecosystem (Battista, et al. 2018, 203). Such practices involve; the use of devices that avoid
catching non-targeted species, targeting only the fishes that exist in plenty, reducing dredging
and mitigating bycatch, and enforcement of policies and regulations that control fishing
activities.
Conclusion
Many consumers rely heavily on fish and other aquatic life for food. To maintain fish
stocks, consumers should be concerned with the fishing method used. The consumer should
advocate for the reduction of overfishing and bycatch through effective fisheries management.
Regulating fishing practices requires the cooperation of various stakeholders including the
consumer, fisheries, and the government. the different stakeholders have different interest in the
management of aquatic life. The fishers aim at maintaining their livelihood while ensuring there
is plenty of fish for the future. The conservationist wants to protect the marine life, and prevent
practices that hamper with the aquatic ecosystem, while the consumer wants to continue
purchasing and eating the seafood they love. All these perspectives can be achieved through
effective management of fishing activities. In the international waters that do not belong to a
particular nation, it requires coming up with a consensus that will agree on the best management
practice to employ.

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