The ocean is crucial for the life on Earth. In fact, it covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, it generates more than 50% of the oxygen, it absorbs 30% of CO2 and it captures 93% of the heat generated by the anthropogenic global warming. A healthy ocean benefits not only the environment but also the global economy. It supports economic growth and provides jobs, especially for coastal communities that rely on the ocean for their livelihoods. The ocean is estimated to generate an annual economic value of $2.5 trillion, highlighting its immense importance. Additionally, more than 58.5 million people are employed in the primary fisheries and aquaculture industries, which are directly tied to the health of the ocean. Furthermore, the ocean plays a crucial role in food security, with more than 3 billion people in the world relying on wild-caught and farmed seafood, as a significant source of animal protein.
Threatens to the ocean wellbeing
However, today the ocean is threatened by many different factors such as:
- Climate change: which is causing the ocean’s waters to warm, leading to increased acidification. This not only disrupts marine life but also reduces oxygen levels in the water, making it harder for many species to breathe.
- Invasive species that are threatening marine ecosystems by disturbing native habitats, which can drive native and unique species to extinction. For example, the Mediterranean Sea is currently being invaded by over 1,000 non-native species, altering its delicate balance.
- Pollutions (plastic, chemical, etc.) that is a growing issue, with an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean every year, harming marine life and ecosystems.
- Shipping and transport as the waste and trash generated by and on ships pollutes the waters;
- Overfishing
Humans have been catching too many fishes since the 2nd World War, when the world’s industrial fishing fleets multiplied. This approach has exhausted the fish population, and it has pushed many more to the brink.
The Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)
Every fish population has an ideal catch limit, known as the maximum sustainable yield (MSY). If this limit is exceeded, the catching may initially be higher, but it will reduce the existing fish stock over time, leading to fewer fish available in the future. Overfishing is worsened by illegal catches and trade. It has been estimated that up to the 30% of the global catches is caught illegally. These fishes make it to the market due to a poor traceability and insufficient import controls within the industry.
FAO’s assessment on fishing sustainability
On the basis of the FAO’s assessment, 64.6% of fishery stocks were within biologically sustainable levels in 2019, a significant decline from 90% in 1974. Meanwhile, the proportion of stocks fished at biologically unsustainable levels has been rising since the late 1970s, increasing from 10% in 1974 to 35.4% in 2019.
Overfishing in the Mediterranean and in the Black Sea
The FAO has also released a report in 2023 on the percentage of overfishing in the Mediterranean and in the Black Sea, which has fallen below 60% for the first time, following a decreasing trend that started a decade ago. Although excessive exploitation of fish stocks has fallen significantly, the fishing in the Mediterranean and in the Black Sea is twice the level considered sustainable. However, the report also demonstrated that expanding management plans is having positive results for key commercial species, since some of them are already revealing some signs of biomass rebuilding.
In conclusion, when too many fishes are taken out of the ocean, it disrupts the balance of the ecosystem, affecting the entire food web and threatening the marine life, including vulnerable species like turtles and corals. This loss of marine life not only harms the environment, but it also impacts jobs and the broader economy, as fishing communities depend on these resources. Overfishing, therefore, threatens both the survival of fish populations and the livelihoods of fishers. To protect marine ecosystems, ensure sustainable food sources and jobs for the future, it is crucial to address the causes and impacts of overfishing at both the local and commercial levels.
