In cooperation with the World Wildlife Fund, Good Fish conducted research on the status of the seafood supply chain on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. By conducting more than 350 interviews, we were able to get a better picture of the entire chain, from fisheries all the way to restaurants and supermarkets.
We found out that there is little to no information available regarding the import and export of fish and fish stocks, which increases the risk of overfishing of local species.
There is also a problem with regards to market transparency. On Bonaire, for example, fish is sold as ‘locally caught’, while it is actually imported from the Las Aves Archipelago of Venezuela. The consumer who buys the fish usually knows nothing about this. As a result, there is a risk that the local fish stocks are in an even worse state than previously thought.
The research also showed that local restaurants and supermarkets support the arrival of a sustainability label. The introduction of our VISwijzer in the Caribbean could be a solution to this. However, there is also a need to create more knowledge among the population, so that they know how to make sustainable choices.
Finally, the local government on Bonaire must offer fishermen a more stable income and limit the risk that fishing stocks come under pressure.
Want to know more? Read the entire research report here.