Running Out of Fish

I recently saw a documentary film by Rupert Murray ("End of the Line", 2009) that says the world is on pace to run out of edible fish by the year 2048. Apparently we are simply catching fish much faster than they can breed and grow in the oceans. Since counting fish is not easy to do, scientists did not have good statistical evidence of this trend until 2003. Since then, negotiated international fishing quotas have been completely ignored by almost every country.

An example of what could happen world-wide is the eradication of codfish from the waters of eastern Canada that reached its conclusion in 1993. After ten years of no fishing for cod in that area, what was once the world's largest population of cod is showing no signs of making a comeback. It could take hundreds of years.

You may not know that bluefin tuna was once the world's most common species of tuna and one of the most common fish in the world. It is now an endangered species.

Many recent documentaries, web sites, and news stories talk about the reduction in crop yields on land that are expected to result from global warming. Many countries are probably making plans in light of this to rely more on seafood later in this century to avoid massive starvation. Maybe they need to rethink those plans.

Don't think that you aren't contributing to the problem by eating fish that is marketed as "farm-raised". Those large fish are fed with small fish that are caught in the ocean, and the process is highly inefficient. In fact, fish farms may actually be more harmful to the oceans than traditional fishing methods. It can take as much as 4 pounds of minnows or anchovies to produce 1 pound of farm-raised salmon.

 

I saw something like this. A guy was trying to show people that certain restaurants around the world are serving endangered species of fish. And , how in Japan they have shed loads of whale meat as no one in Japan wants it and they can't sell it on.

When I was a student some friends and I were involved with Viva and they had a campaign going about what is happening to the worlds fish.

It's very sad.

 

i was disgusted when i seen a show about the chinese catching and cutting off the fins of sharks. the sharks are still alive after they cut all the fins off, they just throw it back in the water to suffer and sink to the bottom to die. all becaus its some damn delacacy they can make money off of.

 

A mature otter will eat as much as 3 pounds of fish daily. I have personally seen otters killing trout and steelhead with reckless abandon. Maybe, just maybe, it's time to pause and ponder the wider ramifications of otter restoration. We are already reaping the whirlwind with wolves, and otters bid fair to present a similar situation.

 

I'm sure for the right price and reasons someone could make a documentary saying not to worry about it. Do you think polar bears are dying too?

 

One of the biggest problems with the fishing industry is the massive commercial fishing factories using long, huge nets that just scoop up tons of fish on a daily basis. These are catching, cleaning and processing millions of fish mostly to supply fast food chains and the frozen fish sold at supermarkets. The worlds fish supply simply has no chance against these vessels and its only a matter of time before the fish population simply fished out.

 

If they could just fish at a sustainable level much more fish could be harvested over the long term which would be a win win senario for everyone.

It's just like the whaling industry in the 1800's who over harvested and then ended up going bust when the whale population was too decimated to repopulate effectively. The whole fishing industry is just shooting themselves in the foot.

 

My fish keep dying in the tank I have in my bedroom.

I feel I am attributed to this problem, somewhat


Nah, it's not a good thing. We are a victim of our own efficiency to some extent, but I still don't think they have a grasp on the amount of fish there are in the sea. Humans have allegedly only seen 2/3% of the ocean, so I think that says it all.

 

That's what they used to say about whales.

 

That is pretty bad news,but have ya noticed that everything has become like Will Rodgers said about the weather?

"Everybody complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it."

I am very concerned about the problems the earth and her inhabitants are facing,but lately it seems that,somehow everyones hands are tied as far as doing something to help.The huge corporations,when caught, pay a fine and continue with their business as usual.

Anyone have any suggestions as to how we could defend the earth in new ways, because the regulatory system is not working.

 

*shrugs* Even still, I just think humans no much less than they think they do. I am by no means condoning the way people fish, I mean to counter my own argument much of the uncharted ocean is improbable when you consider actually fishing there, much the same with what you would actually find.

So I am happy to disagree with myself to some extent, but I just think it's pointless to compare a cod to a whale

I mean, that's like comparing Tigers to kittens is it not?


Either way, I am not an aficionado with fishing by any means.

 

Just because we are only familiar with 2/3 of the oceans does not mean that the 1/3rd we havent explored is full of fish. Most saltwater fish people eat live in waters easily accessible to the fishing industry.

 

Reading is rather useful sometimes. I suggest you try to.

By the by, seriously, it's like 95% of the ocean we haven't seen, and not one third. But I have already mentioned how pointless fishing there would be so I am by no means explaining again.

 

They aren't exactly the same no, but just like with any population if it's reduced enough it will take a lot longer to repopulate. The OP gave some good statistics. The bluefin tuna for example.

 

I agree with this point to some extent, I think there is so much, especially at the bottom of the oceans, that we do not yet know about. But, with certain types of fish we know whereabouts they are, the temperatures they like etc, so can make a pretty detailed guess at how many are around.

People fishing those species with are endangered and running low is selfish and very careless. Someone spoke about otters - that is nature, they can't go and cook something else, not do they know that eating them will diminish the numbers of fish. I think it's sad, that some people are happy to kill of the last remaining fish of a particular species.

The zoos are filled with animals these days that are in danger of being wiped out and in most cases there would be uproar if people kept killing them for food. But, with sea animals, not as many people seem to care.

 

Well I dunno, I don't care for facts and figures, it's just people trying to scare change I belive.

Personally I think people should just have a little morality in the first place, and not have to cease their extreme fishing methods just because they have to. I don't eat fish and seldom eat meat (only when I literally have to), so I am doing my bit more than most here more than likely, regardless of what I say

 

Hmm ok.

But by large, it is the fishing that is killing the fish. If they had morals in regard to this, then they would stop. But they either do not care, or just don't realise what it will mean.

And, my dad watches a lot of those fishing programmes, and they have to by law, throw back any fish that they do not have a permit to catch - but, the fish are already dead by that time. So yes, they throw them back, but what is the point once they have killed them

 

Anyone would think I was disagreeing with people here

End of the day, the fish apocalypse may come sooner than 2048, that was my point- as pedantic as it is. No one can pin point such things, it is just really stupid.

I have had to study business regarding green policy and climate change. Things like that, and figures regarding much else which could be categorically 'green, are fudged all the time to make politicians and policy look impressive.

It's all a big shame though. As I have said, I know nothing about fish in regard to this sort of thing.

 

Oh no, I don't want to make it seem like that. Just thought a couple of things you are were slightly contradictory.

 

Seriously people, read things properly Godammit!!