This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: New research by a Washington State University economist examines how changing environmental conditions may influence the practice and trustworthiness of sustainable ecolabeling in the fishing industry. Ana Espinola-Arredondo, professor in the School of Economic Sciences, worked with colleagues at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain, to model ecolabel certification in fisheries.
In their findings, published in the July issue of the Journal of Environmental Management, scientists found that factors such as rising temperatures and more intense storms, which affect fish stocks, along with higher prices for their catch, encourage commercial fishers to embrace ecolabeling. "Changing conditions affect the value and effectiveness of certification," Espinola-Arredondo said. Fisheries that operate sustainably are more likely to retain certification when environmental conditions deteriorate.
Ecolabels have been around for decades. These marks, found on everything from home appliances to canned tuna, inform consumers that their goods originate from environmentally responsible and sustainable sources. The fishing industry began to adopt and certify sustainable practices in the 1990s, recognizing the need to protect fisheries.
The expense of certification can be prohibitive, especially for small-scale fisheries. "When environmental shocks reduce profitability, certification may attract only the most efficient fishers," Espinola-Arredondo said. In contrast, fisheries that expand into new grounds due to favorable climate change may be tempted to fake certification.
"Highly efficient fishers are generally better positioned to meet certification requirements," she stated. "Their advantage may stem from lower abatement costs, access to cleaner technologies or greater experience, all of which reduce the cost of complying with certification standards." Espinola-Arredondo's team used an economic methodology called signaling games to consider the incentives for fishers to pay for certification. A signaling game models how two "players"—in this case, fishers and certifying agencies—reveal their information level by taking actions that carry a cost.
Combining a theoretical model with evidence from real-world fisheries, the team modeled how fishers would choose to certify based on their catch's price, environmental challenges and the cost of certification. Climate change is altering marine ecosystems. Marine heat waves can rapidly disrupt productivity, affect fish stock abundance and challenge the ability of fisheries to maintain sustainability standards.
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