Towards an Eco-Theology of Fisheries Management?
By Alistair McIlgorm
ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the potential contribution of an eco-theology to the management of marine resources. The
claim of the Christian gospel is that God has a plan for everything in the universe and we are to live to bring it about. The
Hebrew/Christian world view is significantly different from naturalism and humanism, the prevailing Greek world views in
natural resource management. Three biblical paradigms are examined with insights into key elements in the management of
fisheries: dominion; regulation and valuation and caring. In dominion we see the strength of mankind's rule over other
species, including fish, misused. Fisheries management generally fails to reign in this driving force, rewarding greed while
calling for restraint. Regulation and its impact on mindsets and behaviour, is a theme evident in the Old and New
Testaments - entering the promised land, keeping the law and caring for others, both humans and fish. The biblical view
also emphasises life, death and resurrection as the process seen in nature. New fishery management paradigms may only
develop after old ways and attitudes have died. Significant attitudinal change is essential to improve fisheries management
and to achieve new management arrangements. Improved fishery stewardship may require "a new fisher", relationally
mature and societally accountable, to achieve the goals of sustainable fishery management through a variety of policy
paradigms. The Christian world view promotes such attitudinal change to improve stewardship through reconciling issues in
our relationship with God, neighbours and nature. It is worthy of further investigation.
KEYWORDS: ecology, theology, eco-theology, fisheries management
 Ecology and Theology
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