Fisheries

Abstract

In the 1950s and 1960s, industrialisation of fisheries took off and there was a massive increase in global fishing effort and concurrently an increase in catches. Unfortunately, this led to widespread overfishing and eventually to the collapse of many fish stocks. Figures from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation show that, despite further advances in fishing technologies, global catches have declined slowly since the late 1980s. Figures show that in 2005, 17% of stocks were classified as over-exploited and 7% as depleted. About half (52%) of fish stocks are classified as fully exploited, which means they are at, or close to, their maximum sustainable limits with no room for further expansion and even at the risk of decline if not properly managed. In the majority of cases it is overfishing that has led to stocks becoming over- or fully exploited. Recent studies have highlighted another concern stemming from over-exploitation by fisheries — that of a dramatic decline of many predatory fish across the world. In many cases there have been declines in predator stocks by about 90%.