FISHERIES ARE A GLOBAL PONZI SCHEME – WITH DANIEL PAULY
THE WORLD’S LEADING FISHERIES SCIENTIST ON fixing OVERFISHING
1 July 2025—Why does the most cited fisheries scientist in the world call modern fisheries a global Ponzi scheme, and how can we fix it?
Welcome to part two of our dive into the future of oceans (part one is here) where my focus is still on the pathways we can take to preserve ocean ecosystems and fisheries for the future, but this time I’m putting my questions to Daniel Pauly.
Daniel is Professor of the Institute of Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia, and Principal Investigator of the Sea Around Us Project, winner of the 2023 Tyler Prize (the "Nobel prize for environmental achievement") and author or co-author, over his distinguished career, of more than 1,000 science papers, articles, books and book chapters.
And he does NOT pull punches.
In this brutally honest conversation about the state of our oceans and the impact of modern fishing practices, Daniel speaks plainly about:
The beginnings of the technologically-enabled “War on Fish” in 1880
Current global trajectory for overfishing
The absurdity of having one-third of commercial fishing value subsidized, allowing unprofitable operations to continue despite dwindling stocks
How ending subsidies would be a giant step towards a fix
Marine sanctuaries: government promises versus enforcement inaction
How modern technology could easily be used to enforce regulations
Distinctions between sustainable and highly destructive forms of aquaculture
The devastating ecological consequences of changing ocean currents
Why deep-sea mining must be stopped
Listen to our conversation below. Take a moment to meditate on Daniel’s insights, then share them. Our ocean ecosystems are so vastly important to our future, and yet most people spend no time whatsoever thinking about them. All the technology to preserve our oceans exists. The solutions are clear. The only missing piece is the will to implement them.
You might also consider subscribing to “FutureBites with Dr Bruce McCabe” on Spotify or Apple, to learn more pathways to a better future from leading experts, scientists and change-makers.