An Overview of the Causes and Effects of Overfishing

Overfishing is one of the biggest threats to the environment today. While fishing may be harmless, problems arise when humans do it at a rate that outpaces the natural replacement of the fish population. Contrary to popular belief, ocean life is not an inexhaustible resource, and overfishing is a problem that affects all bodies of water – oceans, ponds, or lakes. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, more than 70 percent of fisheries in the world are either fully or over-exploited.

In the past 50 years, the number of overfished stocks worldwide has tripled. This phenomenon poses many adverse effects on the environment, one of which is the disruption of the food chain. When keystone species like sharks are overfished, it affects the population of other species and disrupts the balance in marine ecosystems. Also, when the fish population that feeds on algae declines, it causes algae to grow unchecked, threatening the survival of coral reefs. Herbivorous fish are necessary to keep the coral clean and healthy.

Overfishing also affects the survival of endangered species and threatens biodiversity. Constantly fishing particular specie of fish can put such species at risk of extinction. Many large-scale fishing activities also contribute largely to marine pollution, especially due to oil and chemical spills. These can have devastating consequences on the environment. Regions that economically rely on fishing jobs and fish as a protein source also face major risks.

Several factors enable the problem of overfishing. One of these is the economic and food needs. Human demand for food has significantly increased along with the population. The World Wide Fund revealed that about 3 billion people globally depend on wild-caught and farmed seafood as a primary protein source. Thus, due to the market demand coupled with economic aspirations, the fishing industry is catching more fish than the oceans can naturally replace.

Many fishing methods also contribute to overfishing and endanger marine life. Using certain fishing gear like nets to catch fish often leads to the problem of bycatch, which is a large contributor to the problem of overfishing. Bycatch refers to the incidental capture of non-target marine species. These animals are trapped in fisher’s gear and tossed back into the water or killed. Animals like sea birds, marine turtles, and invertebrates are usually most affected by bycatch. Unfortunately, bycatch occurs so often that it threatens millions of sea animals annually. In some fisheries, the percentage of bycatch outweighs that of the target catch.

Unfortunately, poor management in the fisheries industry allows problems of overfishing to thrive. Fishing areas are largely unprotected and open to fishing fleets. Thus, thousands of commercial fishing vehicles ply the oceans with limited regulatory systems to protect ocean life. Illegal fishing is also rampant and a huge contributor to adverse ocean impacts. According to the World Wide Fund, illegal fishing makes up about 20 percent of the world’s catch.

Government subsidies further worsen this problem. By providing financial support to the fishing industry, the massive operations that contribute to overfishing heighten. Subsidies reduce the cost of doing business and lead to the overcapacity of fishing vessels, making operations much bigger than necessary.

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