Fishing

(1/04/2009) - Among the ways humans produce food in the 21st century, fishing is unique.  The ocean is the last place in the world where large numbers of people can acquire sustenance or make a living by gathering sea food.  Today’s fishermen are the last of the hunter-gatherers. 

Over the last half-century, humanity’s need for seafood has begun to push fish stocks over the cliff.  BBC environmental correspondent Richard Black writes that, “In 2003, 29% of open sea fisheries were in a state of collapse, defined as a decline to less than 10% of their original yield.” According to the Environmental Defense Fund, one billion people currently rely on seafood for a significant part of their diet.  Two hundred million people are employed directly or indirectly by the $80 billion fishing industry. 

In our history, humans have eliminated dozens of species of animals by over hunting.  Will fish be next?