La pêche, une activité ancestrale en mutation

Fisheries and aquaculture provide at least 15% of their animal protein diet to 4.3 billion persons. The rise of aquaculture dates back to the end of the 1980s, when fisheries’ production rate was beginning to decline, sounding the end of its post World War II growth phase. The volume of official landings culminated 25 years ago, without outlook for any further increase. About 60% of fish stocks are currently exploited at the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) level, most of the other ones being overexploited because of the chronic overcapacity of the fleets and of poorly regulated access to fishing. The ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) emerged as paradigm shift in the 1990s, underpinning the renewal of management objectives and governance along with turning towards the ecological and economical sustainability of the exploitation of marine ecosystems. Referred to in several international agreements, EAF percolates regional fisheries management, for instance the Common fishery policy of the European Union. In concert with multilateral instruments, this comprehensive management system is henceforth faced with the rapid development of human societies and the accelerated ocean change.