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Southwest Atlantic Ocean (FAO 41 map), Source: FAO / FIS

Scientists Urge Urgent Regional Pact to Protect Southwest Atlantic Fisheries

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Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

New international study warns that climate shifts, fragmented governance, and rising fishing pressures threaten one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems

The Southwest Atlantic Ocean, spanning more than 17 million square kilometres from northern Brazil to Argentina’s southern Patagonia, is among the most biologically productive marine regions on Earth. Yet despite its vast ecological and economic importance, experts say it remains dangerously undercoordinated when it comes to managing shared ocean resources.

<-- The Southwest Atlantic Ocean. Bathymetry shows shallow regions in yellow to deeper regions in purple. The black box represents The Food and Agriculture Organization’s Major Fishing Area 41. White lines represent the Exclusive Economic Zones of Brazil (mainland), Uruguay and Argentina (including the Islas Malvinas/Falkland Islands). Blue contour lines represent the different ecoregions considered here while the red ones represent ecoregions beyond SWAO, according to Spalding et al. 2007 [4]. Black dashed lines represent major currents. NBC, North Brazil Current. SEC, South Equatorial Current. BC, Brazil Current. MC, Malvinas Current, ACC, Antarctic Circumpolar Current, SAC, South Atlantic Current, ZG, Zapiola Gyre

A new international study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF) calls for stronger cooperation among countries including Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina to safeguard fisheries and ecosystems increasingly strained by climate change.

Driven by powerful ocean currents such as the Brazil Current and the Malvinas Current, the region supports rich biodiversity and major fisheries. These currents mix warm and cold waters, creating nutrient-dense environments that sustain species ranging from fish and squid to sharks and whales. However, shifting wind patterns are now altering ocean circulation, temperature, and marine habitats.

The economic stakes are high. Fisheries in the region employ nearly 900,000 people and produce around two million tonnes of catch annually, valued at approximately $5 billion USD. These industries are vital to coastal economies, ensuring food security and export revenue across South America.

But marine life does not adhere to political boundaries. Many commercially important species migrate across national jurisdictions and into international waters, complicating management efforts.

“The Southwest Atlantic Ocean is a region of incredible ecological and economic importance, yet it lacks a comprehensive governance framework that brings countries together to manage shared resources,” said Dr. Juliano Palacios-Abrantes, lead author and postdoctoral fellow at IOF.

Over the past 40 years, rising sea surface temperatures have significantly altered marine ecosystems. Species are shifting southward or into deeper waters in search of suitable conditions, disrupting traditional fishing patterns and intensifying competition among fleets.

“The main challenge is no longer simply to understand ecological connectivity in the Southwest Atlantic, but to translate that knowledge into workable cooperation. From Argentina’s perspective, stronger regional dialogue will be increasingly important for managing shared fisheries under climate change,” said Dr. Facundo Llompart, researcher at CONICET’s Austral Center for Scientific Research.

“Climate change is fundamentally altering the ocean,” added Dr. Palacios-Abrantes. “Species are moving, ecosystems are shifting, and fisheries are changing as a result. These changes are happening across borders, which means countries must work together to respond effectively.”

Compounding the issue is the growing presence of distant-water fishing fleets operating near national boundaries. These vessels often target high-value species like squid and tuna, sometimes exploiting weak enforcement or regulatory gaps. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing further undermines sustainability and fair competition.

Species richness and catches in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. 

a Species richness across all taxa (data from AquaMaps/AquaX. Black and white polygons represent the marine protected areas in the region (data from United Nations-World Conservation Monitoring Centre and Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade. Click on the image to enlarge

At the same time, gaps in scientific data hinder effective policymaking. Small-scale fisheries—critical for local livelihoods—remain poorly documented. In Brazil, disruptions in national monitoring programs over the past decade have left authorities with limited insight into stock health and catch levels.

Species richness and catches in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean

b Catch in each country’s EEZ from all stocks and shared stocks (data from The Sea Around Us, www.searoundus.com. Click on the image to enlarge

Researchers are now advocating for “ocean science diplomacy,” a collaborative approach that promotes shared data, joint monitoring, and coordinated decision-making across borders.

“The Southwest Atlantic region already has a strong technical and scientific capacity, as well as a long-standing tradition of collaboration among researchers. However, the absence of binding regional cooperation mechanisms limits the ability to translate this knowledge into effective management of shared stocks. Advancing in this direction is less a question of capacity and more one of governance,” said Luís Gustavo Cardoso, Professor at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande and Vice-Chair of the ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics.

Momentum for change may be building. Brazil is set to host several major international environmental events in the coming years, placing global attention on ocean sustainability and offering a platform for regional agreements.

“The ocean connects our countries, ecosystems, and communities,” said Dr. Palacios-Abrantes. “If we want to safeguard the future of the Southwest Atlantic, cooperation will be essential. The challenges we face are shared, and the solutions must be shared as well.”

Shifts in straddling stocks share ratio across EEZs and the high seas by 2050 (adapted from). All projections representing a high emission climate change scenario

The study, titled “Integrated ocean governance is needed in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean to foster fisheries, conservation and resilience to climate change,” was published in Discover Ocean and authored by an international team of researchers from Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.


🇯🇵 日本語版(Japanese Translation)

南西大西洋の漁業を守るため、科学者が緊急の地域協定を要請

新たな国際研究が、気候変動、分断されたガバナンス、漁業圧力の増大が世界有数の豊かな海洋生態系を脅かしていると警告

ブラジル北部からアルゼンチン南部パタゴニアに至るまで、1,700万平方キロメートル以上に広がる南西大西洋は、地球上で最も生物生産性の高い海洋地域の一つである。しかし、その膨大な生態学的・経済的重要性にもかかわらず、共有海洋資源の管理において危険なほど連携が欠如していると専門家は指摘している。

**ブリティッシュコロンビア大学 海洋・水産研究所(IOF)**の研究者が主導した新たな国際研究は、ブラジルウルグアイアルゼンチンを含む各国が、気候変動による圧力が高まる中で漁業と生態系を守るために、より強固な協力体制を構築する必要性を訴えている。

ブラジル海流マルビナス海流といった強力な海流によって駆動されるこの地域は、豊かな生物多様性と主要な漁業を支えている。これらの海流は暖水と冷水を混合し、魚類、イカ、サメ、クジラに至るまで多様な種を支える栄養豊富な環境を生み出している。しかし現在、風のパターンの変化が海洋循環、水温、海洋生息地を変化させている。

経済的な重要性も非常に大きい。この地域の漁業は約90万人を雇用し、年間約200万トンの漁獲を生産しており、その価値は約50億米ドルに達する。これらの産業は沿岸経済にとって不可欠であり、南米各地で食料安全保障と輸出収入を支えている。

しかし、海洋生物は政治的境界に従わない。多くの商業的に重要な種は国境を越えて移動し、公海にも進出するため、管理をより複雑にしている。

「南西大西洋は生態学的にも経済的にも極めて重要な地域であるにもかかわらず、共有資源を管理するために各国を結びつける包括的なガバナンス枠組みが欠如している」と、主著者でありIOFのポスドク研究員であるジュリアーノ・パラシオス=アブランテス博士は述べた。

過去40年間で、海面水温の上昇は海洋生態系を大きく変化させてきた。種は適した環境を求めて南方やより深い海域へ移動し、従来の漁業パターンを乱し、漁船間の競争を激化させている。

「主な課題はもはや南西大西洋における生態学的連結性を理解することだけではなく、その知識を実行可能な協力へと転換することにある。アルゼンチンの視点から見ると、気候変動下で共有漁業を管理するためには、より強い地域対話がますます重要になる」と、アルゼンチン科学技術研究評議会(CONICET)オーストラル科学研究センターの研究者であるファクンド・リョンパルト博士は述べた。

「気候変動は海を根本的に変えている」とパラシオス=アブランテス博士は付け加えた。「種は移動し、生態系は変化し、それに伴い漁業も変化している。これらの変化は国境を越えて起こっており、各国が効果的に対応するためには協力が不可欠である。」

さらに問題を深刻化させているのが、各国の管轄域付近で操業する遠洋漁業船団の存在である。これらの船はイカやマグロなどの高価値種を対象とし、時に規制の隙や監視の弱さを利用する。違法・無報告・無規制(IUU)漁業は持続可能性と公正な競争をさらに損なっている。

同時に、科学データの不足も政策決定を妨げている。地域の生活に不可欠な小規模漁業は十分に記録されていない。ブラジルでは、過去10年間に国家的な漁業監視プログラムが中断され、資源状況の把握が困難になっている。

研究者たちは現在、「海洋科学外交」と呼ばれる協力的アプローチを提唱している。これはデータ共有、共同モニタリング、国境を越えた意思決定を促進するものである。

「南西大西洋地域にはすでに高い技術力と科学的能力があり、研究者間の長年の協力の伝統もある。しかし、拘束力のある地域協力メカニズムが欠如しているため、この知識を共有資源の効果的な管理に活かすことができていない。この分野での進展は能力の問題というより、ガバナンスの問題である」と、リオグランデ連邦大学教授でありICCAT研究統計常設委員会副議長のルイス・グスタボ・カルドーゾは述べた。

変化の機運は高まりつつある。ブラジルは今後数年間で複数の主要な国際環境会議を開催予定であり、海洋持続可能性に世界の注目が集まる見込みである。

「海は私たちの国、生态系、そしてコミュニティをつないでいる」とパラシオス=アブランテス博士は述べた。「南西大西洋の未来を守るためには協力が不可欠である。私たちが直面している課題は共有されており、その解決策もまた共有されなければならない。」

本研究「気候変動に対する漁業、保全、レジリエンスを促進するために南西大西洋における統合的海洋ガバナンスが必要」は、Discover Oceanに掲載され、アルゼンチンブラジルウルグアイの研究者による国際チームによって執筆された。


🇨🇳 简体中文版(Simplified Chinese Translation)

科学家呼吁紧急区域协议以保护西南大西洋渔业

一项新的国际研究警告称,气候变化、治理碎片化以及不断上升的捕捞压力正威胁着全球最富饶的海洋生态系统之一

巴西北部延伸至阿根廷南部巴塔哥尼亚,覆盖超过1700万平方公里西南大西洋是地球上生物生产力最高的海洋区域之一。然而,尽管其生态和经济意义巨大,专家指出,该地区在共享海洋资源管理方面却严重缺乏协调。

一项由英属哥伦比亚大学海洋与渔业研究所(IOF)研究人员主导的国际新研究呼吁,包括巴西乌拉圭阿根廷在内的各国应加强合作,以在气候变化压力不断加剧的背景下保护渔业和海洋生态系统。

该地区由巴西洋流马尔维纳斯洋流等强大洋流驱动,支撑着丰富的生物多样性和重要渔业资源。这些洋流将暖水与冷水混合,形成富含营养的环境,维持着从鱼类、鱿鱼到鲨鱼和鲸类等多种物种。然而,如今风向模式的变化正在改变海洋循环、水温以及海洋栖息地。

其经济意义同样巨大。该地区渔业雇佣了近90万人,每年产出约200万吨渔获,价值约50亿美元。这些产业对沿海经济至关重要,为南美各地提供就业、粮食安全和出口收入。

然而,海洋生物并不遵循政治边界。许多具有商业价值的物种跨越多个国家管辖区甚至进入公海,使管理更加复杂。

“西南大西洋是一个具有巨大生态和经济意义的区域,但却缺乏一个能够将各国联合起来管理共享资源的综合治理框架,”首席作者、IOF博士后研究员胡利亚诺·帕拉西奥斯-阿布兰特斯博士表示。

在过去40年中,海表温度的上升显著改变了海洋生态系统。物种为了寻找适宜环境向南迁移或进入更深水域,扰乱了传统捕捞模式,并加剧了船队之间的竞争。

“当前的主要挑战已不再只是理解西南大西洋的生态连通性,而是将这些知识转化为可行的合作机制。从阿根廷的角度来看,在气候变化背景下,加强区域对话对于管理共享渔业将变得越来越重要,”阿根廷国家科学技术研究委员会(CONICET)澳大利亚科学研究中心研究员法昆多·略姆帕特博士表示。

“气候变化正在从根本上改变海洋,”帕拉西奥斯-阿布兰特斯博士补充道。“物种在迁移,生态系统在变化,渔业也随之改变。这些变化跨越国界发生,这意味着各国必须共同合作才能有效应对。”

问题进一步加剧的是在国家管辖边界附近活动的远洋捕捞船队。这些船只通常针对鱿鱼和金枪鱼等高价值物种,有时利用监管漏洞或执法不足。非法、未报告和无管制捕捞进一步削弱了可持续性和公平竞争。

与此同时,科学数据的缺口也阻碍了有效政策制定。对当地生计至关重要的小规模渔业往往缺乏记录。在巴西,过去十年国家渔业监测项目的中断使得资源状况评估变得困难。

研究人员目前倡导所谓的“海洋科学外交”,这是一种促进跨国数据共享、联合监测和协同决策的合作方式。

“西南大西洋地区已经具备强大的技术和科学能力,并拥有长期的科研合作传统。然而,由于缺乏具有约束力的区域合作机制,这些知识难以转化为对共享资源的有效管理。在这一领域取得进展,与其说是能力问题,不如说是治理问题,”里约格兰德联邦大学教授、ICCAT研究与统计常设委员会副主席路易斯·古斯塔沃·卡多佐表示。

变革的契机或许正在出现。巴西将在未来几年主办多项重要国际环境会议,这将使海洋可持续性成为全球关注焦点,并为区域合作提供平台。

“海洋连接着我们的国家、生态系统和社区,”帕拉西奥斯-阿布兰特斯博士表示。“如果我们希望保护西南大西洋的未来,合作将是关键。我们面临的挑战是共同的,解决方案也必须是共同的。”

该研究题为《为促进渔业、保护及气候变化韧性,西南大西洋需要综合海洋治理》,发表于Discover Ocean,由来自阿根廷巴西乌拉圭的国际研究团队共同撰写。

editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media


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