Overseas
When people think of fishing, what often comes to mind are industrial fleets, crowded fish markets, and tons of seafood shipped to countries around the globe. Also vivid are the challenges the sector faces after decades of overexploitation—especially before sustainability rules were even conceived. Yet, there exists a form of fishing that generally escapes criticism because it is deeply tied to the culture and survival of disadvantaged coastal communities: subsistence fishing.
This ancient practice dates back thousands of years and still represents, for millions of people, the only way to eat. It is estimated that 87% of all fish caught globally ends up on consumers’ tables, while just 1–2% comes from subsistence fishing. A small figure—yet crucial for those whose lives depend directly on the sea.
According to estimates, about 26.6 million Indigenous people engage in subsistence fishing, catching between 1.3 and 2.5 million tons of fish every year. In these communities, fish is not merely a source of nutrition but an integral part of their culture and identity.
The average per capita fish consumption reaches 74 kilograms per year, far above the global average of around 20 kilograms. This data underscores how the sea and rivers remain today the main sources of food and security for those living through this ancestral practice.
The search for food drives these fishers, guided by ecological principles explained through models like the Optimal Foraging Theory and the Optimal Diet Theory. Simply put, those who fish to live decide where, how, and what to catch based on time, energy spent, and the nutritional value of the available species.
However, even this form of fishing now faces enormous challenges. Climate change, pollution, and competition from industrial fleets threaten access to vital marine resources.
In a world consuming more fish than the oceans can replenish, subsistence fishers remind us that true sustainability begins with respect—respect for the sea, for nature, and for the lives it sustains.
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