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Already populations of top predators, a key indicator of ecosystem health, are disappearing
at a frightening rate. Large fish, such as tuna,
swordfish, marlin, cod, halibut, skate, and flounder are being fished
out of the oceans.
Worldwide, fisheries are collapsing. Already Canada’s oldest cod fishery has gone and the North and Baltic Sea’s cod fisheries are close to collapsing.
The world’s largest tuna fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean is one of the last remaining relatively healthy fisheries in the world but it is still under threat. Scientists warn that current fishing levels for bigeye and yellowfin tuna are unsustainable, yet no reduction in fishing effort is occurring.
Longlining, trawling and other forms of destructive and unsustainable fishing are a major threat to marine life. As well as the target fish, millions of other fish, birds, turtles, sharks and dolphins also die as unwanted bycatch in fishing nets and lines annually. Some of these species are already endangered. More fishing vessels means more bycatch as there is no move to promote gear that lessens the destruction.
Every year, fishing nets kill up to 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans). Experts believe entanglement in nets is the cause of most cetaceans’ death and the greatest threat to the survival of many species.
Worldwide, fisheries are collapsing. Already Canada’s oldest cod fishery has gone and the North and Baltic Sea’s cod fisheries are close to collapsing.
The world’s largest tuna fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean is one of the last remaining relatively healthy fisheries in the world but it is still under threat. Scientists warn that current fishing levels for bigeye and yellowfin tuna are unsustainable, yet no reduction in fishing effort is occurring.
Longlining, trawling and other forms of destructive and unsustainable fishing are a major threat to marine life. As well as the target fish, millions of other fish, birds, turtles, sharks and dolphins also die as unwanted bycatch in fishing nets and lines annually. Some of these species are already endangered. More fishing vessels means more bycatch as there is no move to promote gear that lessens the destruction.
Every year, fishing nets kill up to 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans). Experts believe entanglement in nets is the cause of most cetaceans’ death and the greatest threat to the survival of many species.
