Tuna is usually caught using longlines, which the UN has classified as the fishing method with one of the highest levels of bycatch of all gear types. On average, bycatch in longline fishing accounts for more than a quarter (28%) of the total catch. Not only tuna are caught in the hooks, but also sharks, sea turtles, swordfish, seabirds, dolphins, juvenile fish, and other fish species. In the Azores, they have taken a different approach. By combining centuries-old craftsmanship with a large network of marine protected areas, they have managed to achieve both large catches and more fish remaining in the sea.
The Azores are a self-governing Portuguese enclave consisting of nine volcanic islands scattered across the Atlantic Ocean. Here, they have succeeded in creating something that very few countries have even begun to attempt: designating at least 30 per cent of the sea off their coast as marine protected areas. They have already achieved the UN's goal of protecting 30 per cent of their sea area.
When I try to sum up the past year, I see how our reporting has spread in many different directions. From climate to overfishing, from ‘beautiful pictures’ to intelligent fish and dead seals on Swedish beaches. One might think that we should have focused more, or one might choose to see that we have succeeded in covering a range of issues that all concern the sea. Our most important hub – the foundation of all life.
