Impacts of Overfishing
Overfishing is the act of extracting fish (or other marine organisms such as mollusks or crustaceans) at an unsustainable rate. While every species has its own unique life history, generally there is an established recruitment rate (rather through reproduction or immigration) that is a function of the number of individuals in the wild. If fish are extracted faster than they can be "recruited", the population size will decrease. This effect is amplified by the fact that fewer fish result in lower recruitment rates (Walters, 2004).
Such sensitive, dynamic systems can spiral downward quite rapidly, as highlighted in this Canadian Cod fishery example. This is especially true in environments such as the ocean where these effects are difficult to see and assess. Even more troubling is the fact that fishers, who have millennia of experience and knowledge as a foundation, are extremely efficient at extracting ocean resources and are only getting better. Technological advances in fishing gear such as sonar and new synthetic materials for lines and nets, paired with larger boats and greater search areas, are only serving to increase the pressure on fisheries worldwide (Pauly, 2002). Managers, already faced with so much uncertainty around the biology of the target species, have trouble keeping pace with these advances in the fishing industry.
This site will guide you through an analysis of some of the largest contributing factors
to overfishing and ecological impacts of non-sustainable practices.
© 2007 - Sustainable Seafood Guide
Works Cited
Questions/comments? Please email Stephen Durkee, Zach Eyler, or Jason Franken.