SCARY REPORT!

[FishSlayer]

World Fisheries Risk Collapse by 2048, Scientists Say

By Alex Morales

Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- The world's ocean fishing grounds may be almost exhausted by 2048 if catches and pollution aren't limited, according to scientists who conducted a four-year study.

The rate at which stocks in the fishing areas have collapsed is accelerating, the scientists led by Boris Worm of Canada's Dalhousie University said today in the journal Science. A seafood species is said to have collapsed when the catch falls below 10 percent of the maximum annual haul. By 2003, 29 percent of seafood species were in that category, the scientists said.

``If the long-term trend continues, all fish and seafood species are projected to collapse within my lifetime -- by 2048,'' Worm said. ``It is a very clear trend.''

The scientists found that the risk of a species dying out increases when it shares an ecosystem with fewer other creatures. The loss of wildlife also affects the quality of the water, which becomes more polluted, they said.

``The elimination of locally adapted populations and species not only impairs the ability of marine ecosystems to feed a growing human population but also sabotages their stability and recovery potential,'' the scientists said. ``Business as usual would foreshadow serious threats to global food security, coastal water quality, and ecosystem stability.''

Maintaining a variety of fish in an area means the fishing industry can choose from several targets, giving an over-fished species a chance to recover, the scientists said.

Regional Extinctions

Over-fishing has already led to the extinction of species in some regions. These include the bluefin tuna in the Baltic Sea, the Atlantic sturgeon in the U.S. East Coast's Chesapeake Bay, and the gray whale, Atlantic salmon and European oyster in the Wadden Sea off the Netherlands.

``The report appears to ignore all the positive work that has taken place in our industry,'' John Rutherford, chief executive of the U.K.'s Sea Fish Industry Authority, said in an online statement. ``Measures include voluntary closure by the fishing fleet of areas around our coast'' and ``huge growth in certification of sustainable fisheries by the Marine Stewardship Council,'' a global group which assesses fishing practices for sustainability.

Rutherford said ``there is always more to be done,'' and that his authority will commission scientists to analyze the study to see if the industry can learn from it.

Decline in Stocks

The decline in the stocks of fishing grounds can be stopped by the establishment of protected marine reserves, the scientists found after studying 44 such areas. Closing the fisheries and creating reserves led to a 23 percent average increase in species diversity, they said. At the same time, fishing around the reserves became four times more productive.

``We can turn this around,'' Worm said. ``We won't see complete recovery in one year, but in many cases species come back more quickly than people anticipated -- in three to five to 10 years. And where this has been done we see immediate economic benefits.''

Aside from seafood, the ``services'' provided by marine creatures include the filtration and detoxification of water, and the processing of carbon dioxide into food and oxygen. Coastal habitats such as mangroves and marshland also provide a defense against flooding.

The scientists conducted experiments, examined coastal areas and analyzed data from the world's main ocean fishing sites to gauge the effect of species diversity on survival.

[DementedFish]

That would suck.

[Beresford13861]

damm that would suck! make sure we all do our part!

[plumbertom]

We need a ban on commercial harvest of all species of fish in US waters that cannot be raised by fish farming methods.
It has been repeatedly shown that recreational fishing alone will not deplete fish stocks and can be sustainably managed by size and take limits.
the real culprits are the gill netters, long liners and bottom trawlers with a "I'll get mine now and the hell with the future" attitude.
the current system of MLPAs that are being imposed on California by east coast supported environmentalists that embrace total closures is a farce.
A better system that includes Marine parks that allow for recreational fishing is and has been on the board for consideration but has thus far been ignored.
the only way to protect our fishing grounds is for anglers to group together to fight the extremist agendas.
Join in the fight.
Take the money you would have spent on that new rod or reel you don't really need right now and use it to protect your right to fish.
If you don't you won't have a place to use it.
Join United Anglers of Southern California today!
You can find them at www.unitedanglers.com

[cashe]

I have a way to save the worlds fish, it's simple teach the commersal fishing fleet how to practice Catch and release. Or how about this, if you want to eat fish, you have to catch your own.

[FishSlayer]

Originally Posted by cashe

if you want to eat fish, you have to catch your own.

makes sense to me!

[psterling76]

I read that article and was hesitant to post, not knowing how the site would take the news or speculation. I do believe that we have a huge problem with over fishing due mainly by commercial fishing boats, but I don't see a solution unless we can politicians to change things. They seem to ignore the signs and the people because of the jobs and money that commercial boats provide. That and the problem is pretty much invisible like global warming and deforestation throughout the world.