Overfishing has become a global issue and certain breeds of fish are becoming endangered. Fishing is not as simple as sitting quietly in a boat for an afternoon and waiting for the daily catch; instead, fishing has evolved into something larger and much more invasive. Today, large industrial boats patrol the ocean with the help of radar, sonar, helicopters, and spotter planes in search of schools of fish. These boats use nets or long lines with hundreds of hooks to catch fish, and sometimes, other sea creatures. Once the fish are caught, they are hauled to the deck where they are quickly frozen, through a process called flash freezing, and processed for consumption. At this point, nearly 31% of the world’s fish population is overfished and another 58% are fished at the maximum sustainable level. This becomes problematic because certain fish don’t repopulate as quickly as they are caught and consumed. Additionally, when a large group of fish or shellfish are caught, other unwanted sea creatures are also accidentally caught and are usually dead by the time they are noticed and thrown back into the ocean. So, what can humans do to control overfishing? First, through government regulations and restrictions, limits can be set as to how, when, where and how much fishing occurs. They can also ban harmful practices, such as bottom trawling. Marine reserves can also be established to restore ecosystems. Lastly, consumer awareness can be increased. At the end of the day, overfishing is an issue that affects us all and we should all work together to end it because our ecosystems, food, jobs, and economies all depend on it.
