Overfishing is catching too many fish at once, so the fish population becomes too depleted to recover. Billions of people rely on seafood as a key source of protein and people eat fish for that reason. When the bigger fish are no longer around, fishermen move on to smaller fishes like sardines and anchovies. This is known as “fishing down the food web.” These species are often important prey for other animals, and when they are harmed, the entire food web is destroyed.
Removing fish that play key or outsized roles in food webs also alters the larger ocean ecosystems. For example, many fish eat the algae that keep coral reefs clean and thriving. In areas where these species have been overfished, the algae overgrow the reef, killing corals and having a strong negative impact on the many species that call the reef home.
Coral reef fisheries, though often small in scale, may have a large impact on the ecosystem if conducted unsustainably. Rapid human population growth, increased demand, use of more efficient fishery technologies, and inadequate management and enforcement have led to the depletion of reef species and habitat damage in many locations.
Some ways we can stop over-fishing is strong fishery management is key to prevent overfishing and Ban Fishing Subsidies, Adopt Rights-Based Fishery Management, Apply Regulations on Fishing Nets, and Protect Essential Predator Species. Stop overfishing, fishermen!