Overfishing is Destroying Our Oceans — Here’s What We Must Do to Stop It

Posted by admin on Apr 12, 2023

The award-winning 2021 Netflix documentary Seaspiracy shone a light on the devastating impacts of commercial fishing and ‘overfishing’ on the planet’s oceans.

With a plethora of shocking facts and statistics on the damage being caused to fish populations worldwide, it both questioned the ethics of this huge industry and raised the profile of the threats facing our marine ecosystems.

The popular documentary received a mixed reception, with many viewers praising its hard-hitting journalism, while some critics, including several NGOs, claimed it misrepresented some of the issues facing the industry.

With both of these views in mind, I wanted to take a look at the global issue of ‘overfishing’ and provide a commentary on how all aspects of society; governments, corporations and consumers, can work together to stop this devastating practice.

What is overfishing?

Overfishing is an occurrence when more fish are removed from the water than can be reproduced. When too many fish are caught from a particular species, area, or ecosystem, this is overfishing. It is fishing beyond what is sustainable in the long term.

Overfishing can result in a depletion of fish populations, changes in the structure and function of marine ecosystems, and economic and social impacts on fishing communities and the industries that depend on them.

Overfishing is considered a major threat to the sustainability of global fish stocks and marine biodiversity.

According to statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, almost nearly 90% of the world’s marine fish stocks are now either fully exploited, overexploited or depleted.

Around the globe, some individual species of fish are facing more threatening population declines than others, with an article from The Guardian reporting that both tuna and mackerel populations have suffered a “catastrophic” decline of nearly three quarters in the last 40 years, according to new research. The World Wildlife Federation has warned of a risk of losing these species altogether unless drastic action is taken to halt overfishing, among other threats to marine life.

These worrying statistics highlight the urgent need for effective fishing management and conservation measures to ensure the sustainability of global fish populations and the communities that depend on them.

What are the dangers of overfishing?

Overfishing is both a serious environmental and social issue with far-reaching consequences. The following are some of its most significant dangers:

Increased Depletion of Fish Populations:

Overfishing can lead to a depletion of fish populations, which can disrupt the food chain and cause ecological imbalances.

Damage to Marine Ecosystems:

Beyond depleting species populations, overfishing can damage marine ecosystems by altering the balance of species, disrupting food webs, and destroying marine habitats.

Loss of Biodiversity:

Overfishing can lead to a loss of biodiversity in marine ecosystems, harming ecosystems and removing specific populations from the water completely.

Economic Damage:

Overfishing can lead to economic harm, particularly hurting small fishing communities and people that rely on fish stocks for their livelihoods.

Increased Food Insecurity and Poverty:

Overfishing can contribute to food insecurity in areas that rely on fish as a primary source of protein, removing food sources from fishing communities.

Increased Damage to the Health of Fish (and Human) Populations:

Overfishing can lead to an increase in diseases in certain fish populations, which can then be transmitted to humans who consume them.

Social and Cultural Impacts:

Overfishing can have damaging social and cultural impacts, particularly for indigenous and coastal communities whose cultural practices are tied to fishing.

Who can stop overfishing and how?

To tackle the root of the problem, governments and corporations must work harder to address overfishing. And while individuals alone cannot tackle the issue on a global scale, there is still plenty that can be done through consumer behaviour and lifestyle choices to reduce the demand for unsustainable and illegal fishing practices.

Below are some clear and specific measures that governments can take to reduce the damaging practice of overfishing:

Setting Fishing Quotas:

Governments can set fishing quotas to limit the number of fish that can be caught by commercial fishing boats or individuals. This will help prevent overfishing by ensuring that fish populations have a chance to reproduce and numbers recover.

Regulation of Equipment Used for Commercial Fishing:

By using selective fishing equipment such as nets with larger mesh sizes, fishermen can reduce the risk of discarded ‘bycatch’ to preserve the overall health of the marine ecosystem.

Creation of More Marine Protected Areas:

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provide a safe haven for fish populations to recover and reproduce. By limiting fishing activities in certain areas, MPAs can help replenish fish stocks and create a sustainable fishing industry. Governments can work to create more MPAs in marine areas with particularly damaged fish populations and support the recovery of these ecosystems.

And here are some further measures that both businesses and consumers can take to mitigate the issues caused by overfishing:

Encourage Sustainable Fishing Practices:

Sustainable fishing practices, such as using hook-and-line fishing instead of trawling, can help reduce the impact of fishing on the environment. Fishing methods that target specific species can also help reduce bycatch and discarded waste fish.

Promote Responsible Consumer Choices:

Consumers can play their own role in reducing overfishing by choosing sustainably caught seafood. This includes looking for certification labels, such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label, which indicates that the seafood has been caught using sustainable practices.

For individuals concerned by the damaging implications of overfishing, here are also some general lifestyle suggestions that can help support the fight against the practice:

Reduce your seafood consumption:

By consuming less seafood, individuals can help reduce demand for overfished species. Also, incorporating plant-based proteins into your diet, choosing alternative animal protein sources or choosing seafood that is lower on the food chain, such as sardines or anchovies can reduce the demand for overfished species.

Support marine conservation efforts:

There are many organisations out there that work to protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable fishing practices. Consider donating to or volunteering with a group that works to protect the ocean from corporations and individuals that partake in unsustainable and illegal fishing practices.

Conclusion

Overfishing continues to be an ongoing global problem with wide-ranging social and environmental impacts. By implementing these measures, the devastating consequences of overfishing can be reduced and the health of our marine ecosystems can be preserved for future generations.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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