Overfishing -- National Geographic Ocean overfishing is simply the taking of wildlife from the sea at rates too high for fished species to replace themselves. The earliest overfishing occurred in the early 1800s when humans, seeking blubber for lamp oil, decimated the whale population. Some fish that we eat, including Atlantic cod and herring and California's sardines, were also harvested to the brink of extinction by the mid-1900s. Highly disruptive to the food chain, these isolated, regional depletions became global and catastrophic by the late 20th century. When It Started Marine scientists know when widespread overfishing of the seas began. In the mid-20th century, international efforts to increase the availability and affordability of protein-rich foods led to concerted government efforts to increase fishing capacity. But by 1989, when about 90 million tons (metric tons) of catch were taken from the ocean, the industry had hit its high-water mark, and yields have declined or stagnated ever since. When It Will End
Fisheries Campaign - Australian Marine Conservation Society Australia is home to some amazing marine wildlife, much of which is found nowhere else on the planet. Our ocean is a global biodiversity hotspot. We have over 320 different species of sharks and rays, and 70 of these species are unique to Australia, found nowhere else on earth! Unfortunately, commercial fishing using trawlers, gillnets and longlines puts our ocean wildlife at risk. Snubfin dolphins and dugongs drown in gillnets set in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to catch barramundi. Seabirds and turtles are killed on longlines set to catch tuna. Overfishing of once abundant species has led to some species being listed as threatened, such as gulper and school sharks, because they have been fished too hard for too long. In a world with an ever-expanding population, we need to ensure that we maintain healthy oceans while we’re taking from the sea, so that we can ensure a future full of fish for generations to come.
Oceans, Whales & Seafood. Help protect marine life | Greenpeace Half the oxygen we breathe comes from our oceans. One of our world’s most stunning features, they cover more than 70 percent of the planet, comprise 99 percent of its habitable space, and house the greatest diversity of major plant, animal, and microbial species, from the simplest to the mightiest on earth. Their importance to all life cannot be underestimated. Oceans regulate the climate, produce half of the earth’s breathable oxygen, and are a huge source of food. For the one billion coastal humans who depend directly upon them, the oceans are life itself. And because of some pretty careless industrial human activity, our oceans are in a lot of trouble right now. We’ve made significant progress to turn the tide towards ocean conservation, but a lot more needs to be done in a short time. Ensuring Sustainable Seafood The problems taxing the ocean are caused directly by what's available at the seafood counter. Spotlight on Tuna Tuna is one of the world's favorite fish. Saving Whales
Overfishing -- Pristine Seas -- National Geographic Ocean overfishing is simply the taking of wildlife from the sea at rates too high for fished species to replace themselves. The earliest overfishing occurred in the early 1800s when humans, seeking blubber for lamp oil, decimated the whale population. Some fish that we eat, including Atlantic cod and herring and California's sardines, were also harvested to the brink of extinction by the mid-1900s. Highly disruptive to the food chain, these isolated, regional depletions became global and catastrophic by the late 20th century. When It Started Marine scientists know when widespread overfishing of the seas began. In the mid-20th century, international efforts to increase the availability and affordability of protein-rich foods led to concerted government efforts to increase fishing capacity. But by 1989, when about 90 million tons (metric tons) of catch were taken from the ocean, the industry had hit its high-water mark, and yields have declined or stagnated ever since. When It Will End
What is Bycatch? Understanding and Preventing Fishing Bycatch Bycatch occurs because modern fishing gear is very efficient, often covers an extensive area, and can be highly unselective—it catches not only the target species but many other marine animals as well. Poor fisheries management in certain countries further contributes to the problem. Widespread pirate fishing ignores regulations on net mesh sizes, quotas, permitted fishing areas and other bycatch mitigation measures. NON-SELECTIVE FISHING GEARFishing gear is largely non-selective—any species can be caught, including non-target species. Longlines, trawling and the use of gillnets are the fishing methods that most commonly result in bycatch. Longlining is a commercial fishing method commonly targeting swordfish, tuna and halibut, where hundreds or thousands of baited hooks hang at intervals along a single fishing line. With trawling, boats drag large nets along the seabed, catching almost everything in their path.
Mercury levels: Climate change and overfishing are increasing toxic mercury levels in fish Mercury levels in the seafood supply are on the rise, and climate change and overfishing are partially to blame, according to a new study. Scientists said mercury levels in the oceans have fallen since the late 1990s, but levels in popular fish such as tuna, salmon and swordfish are on the rise. According to a new study by Harvard University researchers in the journal Nature, some fish are adapting to overfishing of small herring and sardines by changing their diets to consume species with higher mercury levels. Based on 30 years of data, methylmercury concentrations in Atlantic cod increased by up to 23% between the 1970s and the 2000s. But overfishing isn't the only contributor to higher mercury levels in fish. The study also found that mercury levels in Atlantic bluefin tuna have increased by an estimated 56% due to seawater temperature rise since 1969. Climate change "is not just about what the weather is like in 10 years," said lead researcher Amina Schartup.
Oceans Are for Everyone - United Nations University Mary Frances Davidson This article is part of UNU’s “17 Days, 17 Goals” series, featuring research and commentary in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, 25-27 September 2015 in New York City. Goal #14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development Whether you live on the coast, or on a landlocked mountaintop, the world’s oceans and seas impact your life. Oceans play a vital role in regulating the earth’s temperature and climate patterns, acting like a giant solar panel that soaks up heat from the sun and distributes it across the earth through a complex system of currents. The next time you take a deep breath of fresh air, thank an ocean. Oceans cover roughly 70% of the Earth’s surface, and contain an estimated 50%–80% of life on our planet. Despite the vital importance of oceans’ health for life on earth, the sad truth is that they are in trouble. Managing our natural wealth Measuring our success
Overfishing "There's enough on this planet for everyone's needs but not for everyone's greed" - Mahatma Gandhi For our children to have future income, food and pleasure we need healthy oceans and a healthy fishing industry. We need to create ocean sanctuaries to improve the state of our oceans and our fish populations. We need to vastly improve the way we fish, so it is not wasteful and damaging, but first we urgently need to stop taking fish faster than our oceans can replenish. It’s really simple housekeeping. But common sense is not working at the moment. Here are some facts and figures that may shock you: 63 percent of global fish stocks are now considered overfished. 40,000 jobs were lost with the collapse of just one overfished cod populationFishing fleets are heading to new waters because they have exhausted their old hunting grounds The fishing industry now has vessels that can go further, stay longer and catch more, easily out-fishing nature’s ability to replenish fish.
sustainable fishing | National Geographic Society Sustainable fishing guarantees there will be populations of ocean and freshwater wildlife for the future. Aquatic environments are home to countless species of fish and invertebrates, most of which are consumed as food. (Others are harvested for economic reasons, such as oysters that produce pearls used in jewelry.) Seafood is respected all over the world, in many diverse cultures, as an important source of protein and healthy fats. Demand for seafood and advances in technology have led to fishing practices that are depleting fish and shellfish populations around the world. Consider the example of the bluefin tuna. Since about that time, commercial fishers have caught bluefin tuna using purse seining and longlining. Both purse seining and longlining are efficient fishing methods. Overfishing Catching so many fish at a time can result in an immediate payoff for fishers. Taking wildlife from the sea faster than populations can reproduce is known as overfishing. Fisheries Management
Overfishing: Can We Ever Reverse the Damage We’ve Done? The global numbers regarding fishing have gone from sustainable to straight-up devastating in just a few decades. Now, the creatures of the water have to fear about two more things in addition to human-made disasters - the rising water temperatures and plastic. There is no harm in fishing. But there is a difference between justified consumption and exploitation. In just half a century, over-fished stocked grew triple its size. Even if one species of fish gets wiped off from the earth, it is going to have a very drastic effect on the marine ecosystem. Defining overfishing is simple. Man’s desire to catch rare and magnificent forms of fishes began when we started to conquer the waters. Whaling saw a rapid rise in the mid-19th century, where we embarked on a journey to find blubber. Two years later, in 1929, the number of whales killed rose to 40,201. The whaling practices of this era were so devastating that it pushed eight species of whales to the endangered list in 1970.