A new analysis was sourced from the University of Washington addressing how effective fishing closures are at reducing accidental catch.
Researchers discovered that marine protected areas are a relatively inefficient way to protect marine biodiversity that is accidentally caught in fisheries. By being more dynamic about ocean management, meaning changing the pattern of the closures could be potentially more effective.
Nations are calling for protection of 30% of the world's oceans by 2030 from all types of exploitation, including fishing.
"We hope this study will add to the growing movement away from permanently closed areas to encourage more dynamic ocean management," said author Ray Hilborn, a professor at the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences.
"Also, by showing the relative ineffectiveness of static areas, we hope it will make conservation advocates aware that permanent closed areas are much less effective in reducing accidental catch than changes in fishing methods."
These techniques could include devices that keep sea turtles away from shrimp fishing, or streamer lines on boats to deter seabirds from getting caught in fishing lines.
The team of researchers looked at 15 various fisheries around the world, including Californian swordfish, South African tuna and Alaskan pollock and they modeled what would happen both to the targeted fish and to species caught accidentally if 30% of fishing grounds were permanently closed, compared with dynamic management.
In practice, dynamic management tracks real-time data and closes smaller areas that can move year to year based on where species are most affected.
