Sustainable Fishing
Overfishing is decimating our oceans, pushing marine species to the brink of extinction and disrupting delicate ecosystems that are vital for ocean health.
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Stop Deep Sea Mining before it starts
Greedy companies want to mine the seafloor for profit. 2 million people worldwide say no to deep sea mining – will you join them?
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Make a donation to protect our ocean
Help create one of the world’s first global ocean sanctuaries free from destructive industrial fishing.
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Turn the Global Ocean Treaty into law
Sign the petition to demand the Australian Environmental Minister, Murray Watt, helps bring the Global Ocean Treaty into law.
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As our thank you gift to you, we’ll send you this limited edition tee designed by Australian Illustrator Brentos.
The problem
Industrial fishing practices, driven by insatiable global demand, are emptying our seas at an unsustainable rate, stripping away biodiversity and threatening the livelihoods of millions who rely on these waters for food and income.
The relentless pursuit of fish has led to advanced fishing techniques that locate and harvest fish faster than they can reproduce. It inevitably leads to non-target species being killed, like dolphins, turtles and seabirds – this is called by-catch.
Poor and unsustainable fishing practices destroy critical habitats such as coral reefs and mangroves that are essential not only for marine life but also for the health of our planet, acting as carbon sinks that mitigate the effects of climate change.
It undermines the food security of coastal communities around the world, many of which depend on fish as a primary source of protein, pushing these these communities into economic hardship, poverty and environmental degradation.
What can be done
Greenpeace supports any organisation making genuine commitments to improve their environmental performance. But it is important to be able to see through the greenwash in any industry, including the canned tuna industry.
It’s encouraging to see ever-increasing demands for products or services that don’t come with environmental consequences. Since we launched our first Canned Tuna Guide in 2009, thousands of Australians have written to tuna companies demanding they switch to sustainably caught tuna. And they’re listening. In 2017, we had a huge breakthrough which ended destructive fishing practises in the Australian tuna market. Thanks to the efforts of our amazing supporters, all major Australian canned tuna brands are now FAD-free!
Learn more about sustainable fishing
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Bottom trawling continues to cause large scale destruction in the Pacific
The environmental vandalism of New Zealand’s bottom trawlers continues to devastate the ocean. A New Zealand deep-sea trawler has hauled up more than six tonnes of protected stony coral in…
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Global Ocean Treaty Ratifications Gain Momentum
Some positive news for the world’s oceans this week – just in time to celebrate World Oceans Day! On 28th May, six European nations stepped up to formally ratify the Global Ocean Treaty – an international agreement seen as pivotal to protecting life beyond national waters.
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David Attenborough’s New Documentary: A Call for Action on the Global Ocean Treaty
“This is the story of our ocean. And how we must write its next chapter together. For if we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I’m sure that nothing is more important.” -David Attenborough
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REPORT: From Commitment to Action – Achieving the 30×30 target through the Global Ocean Treaty
In 2022, the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.…
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Report: How the Global Ocean Treaty can help repair high seas mismanagement
This report explores how Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) have not met their mandate for sustainably managing the impacts of fishing activity on biodiversity in international waters. It then sets out how the recently won Global Ocean Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) can remedy this systematic mismanagement of biodiversity on the high seas.
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REPORT: 30×30 From Global Ocean Treaty to Protection at Sea
This report offers clear routes to action to get across the finishing line and help the oceans thrive again.
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REPORT: Deep-Sea Disaster, Why Woodside’s Burrup Hub project is too risky to proceed
A spill or accident at Woodside’s Burrup Hub gas project could release toxic gas and condensate of a similar consistency to crude oil into World Heritage listed marine parks, with…
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POLL: Australians want renewable energy
More than 70% of Australians want ambitious renewable energy target to drive down electricity prices
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REPORT: License to Krill
Are krill oil companies stealing food from the mouths of Antarctic penguins and whales?
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INVESTIGATION: Turn the Tide
Greenpeace’s 12-month long investigation exposes the activities of Thailand’s rogue overseas fishing fleets, the companies behind them and their supply chain connections to export markets including Australia, the US and Europe.
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REPORT: Monster Boats – The scourge of the oceans
The destructive concentration of power and quotas in the EU fishing industry
Keep informed
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