Reply #35: Not just tuna: here are some details on the current level of fishery depletion [View All]

[JCMach1]

The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has estimated that 950 million people worldwide rely on fish and shellfish for more than one-third of their animal protein. Over 200 million people depend upon fish as a main source of income, particularly subsistence fishers in developing countries. The Humane Society of the United States recognizes the significant international dependence on fishing as an industry. Our primary concerns are the gross over-exploitation of fish populations, the impact of commercial fishing activities on other, non-target marine creatures, and the growing tendency of governments and industry to blame marine mammal predation for fish stock depletion.

Fisheries Over-Exploitation

Since the 1970s, fisheries have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels of production. The FAO estimates that 70% of the world's fish species are either fully exploited or depleted. The worldwide fleet of commercial fishing vessels has doubled since 1970 and operates at a loss of 54 billion taxpayer dollars every year. The annual global catch peaked in 1989 at 89 million tons and has currently stabilized at about 85 million tons. This abuse has raised great concern within all areas of the fishing community... http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/what_are_the_issues/commercial_fisheries_and_marine_mammals/fisheries_factsheet.html