Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Water use · United States · 2003–2016

Greenpeace says fisheries scientist Ray Hilborn got $3.56m from seafood groups

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
  • The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
What the record lacks: 3 none on record · 1 not measured See the gaps

Greenpeace's 2016 review of public records found that only 26 of Ray Hilborn's 138 papers disclosed company funding. Hilborn said he had no conflict of interest, and a University of Washington review found no violation.

What?
Greenpeace reported in May 2016 that Ray Hilborn had received at least $3.56 million from 69 fisheries and seafood groups since 2003, and that company funding was stated in 26 of his 138 papers. OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Where?
University of Washington, Seattle; funding from Alaska community groups, per Hilborn OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
When?
Funding reported for 2003-2015; Greenpeace report in May 2016 OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Who?
Gained
Lost
None on record
Harmed
None on record
Why?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
Greenpeace drew on public records; the papers were checked for disclosure of company funding. OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

Greenpeace reported in May 2016, drawing on public records, that University of Washington fisheries scientist Ray Hilborn had received at least $3.56 million from 69 fisheries and seafood groups since 2003.

Greenpeace said company funding was stated in only 26 of Hilborn's 138 papers, and that such funding made up more than 20 per cent of his outside funding.

Hilborn said he had no conflict of interest and that most of his funding came from Alaska community groups; a university review found no violation.

In July 2009 Hilborn co-authored a Science paper with Boris Worm, whose 2006 forecast the press had narrowed to a 2048 collapse of fisheries; the paper reported that pressure had fallen in half of ten ecosystems with detailed data.

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Record

    • None on record The list of the 69 groups is not in the sources reviewed.
    • None on record The scope and date of the university review are not stated.
    • None on record Hilborn's statements are cited as his response and have not been independently checked.

    Did the harm stop?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Who paid?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Sources

    Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society✓ Researchers

    Press and investigations

    1. UW fisheries professor faces complaint from Greenpeace
      OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) · 2016-05-13

    Researchers

    1. Boris Worm study on rebuilding global fisheries
      Dalhousie University · 2009-07-30

    Connected cases

    Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.
    Terms used on this page

    Science and environment

    Hectare (ha)
    A unit of area equal to 10,000 square metres, about 2.5 acres. 100 hectares make one square kilometre.
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