This vision of fishing vessels rapidly depleting the ocean of fish is not far from what is happening today. According to a study published in a recent issue of Science, should the trends in fishing and consumption continue, the world’s supply of seafood could be gone by the year 2048. Some of the forces behind the dire forecast include overfishing, pollution and the destruction of marine life’s natural habitats.
A Washington Post article (November 3, 2006) stated that 29% of the total number of global fish caught for commercial purposes have experienced a collapse, meaning their levels are at least 90% below their maximum catch levels. The data analyzed fish populations over a period of four years ending in 2003, the last year for which the data is available. The same article also stated that the fishing industry generates about $80 billion yearly, with about 200 million people relying on it as their main source of income (either directly or indirectly). Therefore, the depletion of the global fish supply affects many people over the world, and resolving the issue should be of international interest.