Overfishing: Over 90% of global fish stocks are fully exploited or overfished, driven by industrial fleets using bottom trawling, longlines, and sonar to maximize catch. This depletes key species like tuna and cod, disrupts marine food webs, and destroys seafloor habitats. Bycatch—unintended capture of dolphins, turtles, and seabirds—adds to the toll. Subsidies, estimated at $22 billion yearly, incentivize unsustainable practices. Small-scale fishers and coastal communities suffer food insecurity as local fisheries collapse. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), science-based quotas, and traceability systems (e.g., electronic monitoring) can aid recovery. The 2022 WTO agreement to curb harmful subsidies marks progress. Sustainable fisheries management is crucial not only for ocean health but for the 3 billion people relying on seafood as a primary protein source.
Add Comment + Vote ( 1 )...
There are currently no comments !