June 8th sees World Ocean Day – an International Annual celebration. The theme for 2026 is Reimagine, and the UN World Ocean Day website (worldoceanday.org) explains this as follows:
Reimagining a better future is the first step to building it.
For too long, we have treated the ocean as something vast, distant, and separate from us.
We created that distance ourselves. The ocean has always flowed through us, in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the climate that makes our lives possible.
Now we are being called to reimagine that relationship.
Of course, one of the main things that springs to mind when we think of the sea is the UK’s most favourite dish – fish and chips.
According to UK fisheries, there are over 10,500 fish and chip shops across the country serving up some 167 million fish and chip meals a year!
But according to Oceana (the largest international advocacy organisation focused solely on ocean conservation, and with a mission to protect and restore our oceans), half of the UK’s top ten fish stocks are critically low, being exploited, or both.
In fact, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has advised that the state of the crisis is such that a zero catch is needed to safeguard the future of the cod fishery! But despite repeated warnings from scientists, Ministers continue to set “total allowable catches” for many stocks above sustainable levels.
For example, catch limits for three of the five worst-performing stock have been set above scientific advice for five consecutive years!
But there is hope – their reports also shows that recovery is possible when political decisions follow the science. So Oceana UK is urging the UK Government and devolved administrations to:
- Urgently deliver a strategy to end overfishing by the end of 2026.
- Put in place a legal deadline to rebuild fish stocks that holds government accountable.
- Set all catch limits in line with the science.
- Publish an annual Parliament-scrutinised audit.
- Ensure a fair deal for fishers needing support to adjust to lower catch limits and sustainable practices.
So, what can we do? Well, Oceana is also encouraging the public to join the fight to end overfishing and write to the Prime Minister, Environment Secretary, and their local MPs demanding that the government follows scientific advice on catch limits and introduces a legally binding deadline to end overfishing.
Let’s get moving – or, not only will our favourite dish disappear, but so will that well known phrase “there’s plenty more fish in the sea”!!
