AIMING FOR SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES IN THE BALEARICS

With the arrival of summer, our consumption of fish increases. For this consumption to be safe, we should know the origin of the product, and the methods used to catch and preserve it. This is the reason why traceability is so important.  

 

What is traceability? It is the set of procedures that make it possible to identify and follow the fish journey, from catch to market, and it is a fundamental tool for promoting the sustainable exploitation of resources and guaranteeing food safety.  

In some cases, the fish that is marketed and ends up on our tables is the product of poaching, caught in unauthorised areas or the result of irregularities that make traceability impossible. This has negative consequences both economically and in terms of public health, and makes it impossible to implement a correct knowledge, and therefore management, of our ecosystems.  

  

As consumers, there are certain strategies we can follow to ensure that our fish comes from fair sources. Firstly, paying attention to labels, which should always include at least the trade and scientific names of the fish, the method, gear, and area of capture or farming, as well as the best-before date and allergens. If the labelling is not correct, the product traceability and therefore valuable information about what is being consumed gets lost.  

 The responsible consumer must bear in mind which fish is in season. In the case of Ibiza, only the “Peix Nostrum” brand guarantees that it is and that it has been caught ethically and correctly by professional fishermen on the island. 

 Of course, the fish must have passed through the fish market. If it has not, not only is not guaranteed to be fresh, but its quality could be compromised. Responsible fish consumption makes it possible for the primary sector to survive. In the Balearic Islands, it is not only part of our tradition and landscape, but also a fundamental pillar for food sovereignty.  

  

The main objective of “Calant Xarxes” is to promote and encourage good practices and seek solutions to put an end to poaching and illegal commercialisation. Without demand, there is no supply, which is why fighting for conscious consumption is a necessary measure to tackle this problem. For this reason, one of the actions of this project is to work on raising public awareness, presenting the harm caused by poaching and illegal fishing, and highlighting the value of our heritage, from the perspective of food security and sovereignty.  

 

Inés Roig, 

technical coordinator of Calant Xarxes  

  

Note: ‘Calant xarxes per una pesca justa’ is the new joint project in which the Balearic foundations Marilles, Mallorca Preservation, IbizaPreservation and Menorca Preservation are already working together with the support of the English organisations Conservation Collective, Edmiston and Blue Marine Foundation, to seek solutions to the problems of illegal fishing and commercialisation in the Balearic Islands and to move towards sustainable fishing. 

 Original article in Spanish: https://www.noudiari.es/opinion-ibiza/apostando-por-una-pesca-mas-sostenible-por-ines-roig/