Protecting the world's oceans
Today's exploitative fishing practices exceed nature's ability to replenish the ocean's fish stocks.
According to the United Nations, 71-78% of the world's fisheries are 'fully exploited', 'over exploited' or significantly depleted'. Some species have already been fished to commercial extinction. More are on the verge of extinction.
Fishing does not only threaten the fish species we target for food. Other species - such
as marine mammals and seabirds - are caught incidentally in fishing gear and killed.
Moreover, the fishing practices are destructive. Bottom trawling, for example, is a destructive
way of 'strip mining' the ocean surface, harvesting the species that live there.
It can destroy entire habitats found on the ocean floor. The impacts are felt throughout the marine ecosystems.