Why Cover OVERFISHING?
Seafood is the primary source of animal protein for as much as one-sixth of the world’s population. In the U.S. alone, commercial and recreational fishing annually amounts to a $50 billion industry. Throughout much of the developed world, fresh, affordable fish are plentiful in grocery stores and supermarkets and on restaurant menus. Per capita fish consumption has been increasing — among Americans, up from 12.5 pounds per person in 1980 to 15.6 pounds in 2000. Consumption is increasing, but fish stocks are declining worldwide as a result of environmental pressures and growing demand for seafood. In 1998, more than 1,600 scientists from around the world issued a joint statement entitled “Troubled Waters.” They say the most pressing threats to ocean health result from human activities, and that the threats are exacerbated by commercial activities and coastal population growth. In their view, the primary threats to ocean health include species over-exploitation, habitat degradation, pol
