Fisheries and overfishing
Fish are one of the world's resources that have provided people with a valuable source of food for thousands of years. The diets of 2.6 billion people depend on fish as a source of animal protein. However, fish stocks are now declining and some fish are even on the brink of extinction, due to overfishing. More than 70% of the world's fisheries are overexploited, and several fisheries have already collapsed.
200 million people worldwide earn all or part of their income thanks to fishing and related activities. Along the world's coastlines fish provide most of the food protein, and fishing provides most of the jobs for neighbouring communities. Unsustainable fishing is threatening the traditional livelihoods of these coastal communities across the world, not to mention having a devastating impact on fish populations.
Most of the problems associated with overfishing have been caused in the last 50 years by the rapid advances in fishing technology. Huge factory ships were introduced, with all the equipment on board to either freeze or tin fish caught by their hunting ships. Initially this led to growth in catch sizes every year, but the increases soon slowed. As catches have gradually become smaller, so fleets have used fishing nets with a smaller mesh size, to allow smaller fish to be caught (as well as anything else that gets caught in the net).
Overfishing can seriously affect not only the fish stocks, but also the livelihoods of many people who depend on fishing as a job. There is a delicate balance to be struck between catching fish to make money and ensuring that there are enough fish left alive to be able to replenish stocks for future years. Whole communities are suffering economic hardship as a result of overexploiting their own fisheries.
What needs to be done?
Properly maintained fisheries could and should be a renewable and possibly even endless supply of protein. At present, short-term economic pressures are preventing sensible long-term planning for a sustainable yield (only taking out as many fish as can be replaced by reproduction the following year.) With the following measures in place, fishing could continue without further damaging stocks, and people in coastal communities could continue to make their livelihood from fishing:
Certification
Fish from sustainable fisheries should be certified, and consumers encouraged to buy these fish.
No-take zones
Zones need to be enforced to protect areas where fish go to spawn during breeding seasons.
Access agreements
Fairer deals need to be negotiated to prevent fleets from richer countries taking fish from developing country coastlines, without regard for coastal communities or the environment.
Quotas and Nets
Quotas should be set on catches by large fishing fleets, based on scientific estimates for the size of the fish stock. Correct mesh size should be used in all nets to ensure that fish of the right age are caught, and to prevent accidental catches of other fish.