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Ayesha Imran

Syeda Habibah Hussain Rizvi

SS 100

6 May 2024

Overfishing and Marine Resource Depletion

Over 70% of Earth's surface is made up of oceans, which are home to a diverse range

of marine life that supports global economies, communities, and ecosystems. However, the

widespread practice of overfishing, or the exploitation of fish stocks at unsustainable rates, is

posing a growing danger to the sustainable balance of marine resources. Due to population

expansion and economic progress, there is an increasing demand for seafood worldwide,

which puts significant strain on marine ecosystems and has dire implications. Overfishing

damages marine ecosystems, endangering the food security of those that rely on fish protein

as well as biodiversity and economic imbalances. However, the consequences of overfishing

are multifaceted and may be influenced by various factors beyond direct fishing pressure.

The fundamental cause of the problem is the overfishing of fish populations, which is

fuelled by the market's demand for seafood products, insufficient fisheries management, and

technological developments in fishing techniques. The number, diversity, and resilience of

fish populations are all directly impacted by the severe effects of overfishing.

This research essay aims to delve deeper into the impact of overfishing on marine

ecosystems and global food security, providing insights for effective conservation strategies

and policy interventions.

The idea that the oceans could be empty by 2048 due to overfishing is a concerning

notion that has gained attention in recent years. This claim, popularized by studies such as the

one conducted by Boris Worm and his colleagues in 2006, suggests that if current fishing

practices continue unchecked, fish populations could collapse entirely within a few decades.
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This study analyzed historical trends in fish populations and projected that if the current rate

of decline persists, the oceans could be devoid of fish by the mid-21st century as seen from

the graph provided below (Our World in Data 4). While this prediction may seem extreme, it

serves as a stark warning about the potential consequences of overexploiting marine

resources. “85% of the world’s fish resources are beyond their sustainable capacity” (Ocean

info 4). As we delve deeper into the complexities of overfishing and its repercussions, it

becomes evident that urgent action is needed to prevent such a bleak future.
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Overfishing is a significant global issue influenced by various factors, which include

excessive harvesting rates, lack of monitoring, and the targeting of juvenile fish. These

practices lead to the depletion of fish populations and disrupt ecosystems, posing significant

threats to marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on fishing

for their income and food security. Overfishing is catching fish at a rate that is faster than

they can reproduce, there are not enough adults to breed hence the species of fish are not able

to reproduce to a healthy number again. The species remain in a constant decline until they

go extinct. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing contributes to it the most by

operating outside legal regulations and quotas. According to the Marine Stewardship Council,

between 11 and 26 million tonnes of fish are taken illegally from the world’s ocean every

year, that’s around 11,000,000,000 of illegal fishes that’s being sold worldwide. Estimated to

be worth US$ 10-23.5 billion annually, IUU fishing threatens the sustainability of fish

populations, ecosystems and the livelihoods of those who fish legitimately (5).

Another factor contributing to overfishing would be bycatch. It is when fishermen

accidentally catch fish that they do not require or should not catch which includes sharks,

turtles, dolphins and sea birds. 27% of the total global catch is unwanted fish resulting in the

severe decline of 8 species by 2023 (Our World in Data 7). At this moment, there are

thousands of miles of nets set up in the oceans around the world. These nets do not

differentiate between the fish they are meant to catch and those they aren’t. This means when

fishermen pull in the nets, other creatures are often caught up within them. These animals are

either tossed back into the ocean, sometimes still wrapped up in the nets, or killed on the ship

and thrown back into the water (Ocean Info 2). Trawling results in 56.3% of bycatch every

time (Albert 1). Trawling is when thousands of miles of nets are dragged along the seabed by

commercial fisherman. As we transition to discussing the impacts of these practices, it

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becomes evident that urgent action is needed to address these pressing challenges and

safeguard the health of our oceans and marine resources.

The defining argument regarding the impacts of overfishing centers on its ecological

effects by disrupting marine ecosystems, altering predator-prey relationships, the carbon

cycle and diminishing overall biodiversity. As fish populations decline due to excessive

harvesting rates, the intricate web of predator-prey relationships within marine food webs is

thrown into disarray. “Overfishing takes too many large individuals from higher trophic

levels out of the marine ecosystem, going from the highest trophic level and most valuable

species at the time they are fishing resulting in serial depletion” (Pauly et al., 2005). This

disruption can have cascading effects throughout the ecosystem, affecting not only the

targeted fish species but also their predators, prey, and associated species. Species lower on

the food chain tend to overpopulate, threatening other important marine life. Sharks are one

of the most common fishes suffering from the practice of overfishing. When sharks are

overfished, then, their prey rays increase in number. This carries over into the next levels of

the food chain as more rays mean fewer shellfish and other smaller fish species. But when the

number of these species reduce drastically, the number of rays in turn decrease (Ocean Info

4).

The balance in the predator-prey relationship is what keeps the ocean thriving but

since this relation has been exploited, the ocean health has been put at risk through habitat

degradation and loss of biodiversity. Many fish species play crucial roles in maintaining the

health of marine ecosystems by shaping habitat structure, controlling algal growth, and

promoting nutrient cycling. Overfishing reduces the resilience of marine ecosystems to

environmental stressors such as climate change and pollution. Healthy, diverse ecosystems

are better able to withstand and recover from disturbances, but the depletion of key fish

species due to overfishing can weaken ecosystem resilience and make them more vulnerable
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to collapse. One of the primary ways in which overfishing impacts coral reefs is through the

removal of key fish species that play crucial roles in maintaining reef health. Many fish

species, such as parrotfish and surgeonfish, are important herbivores that help control algal

growth on coral reefs. By grazing on algae, these fish prevent algae from overgrowing and

smothering corals, thereby promoting coral growth and reef health (Environmental Defense

Fund 3). However, the depletion of these herbivorous fish populations due to overfishing can

lead to an increase in algal abundance, which can outcompete corals for space and resources.

“The total ocean seabed spans 361 million km2 out of which 5 million km2 is trawled by

2021” (4). These thousands of miles of nets are dragged along the seabed every day, resulting

in the destruction of many of the fish habitats and coral reefs. With lesser coral reefs and

more smaller fishes by the catching of larger fishes, the already suffering coral reefs’

population is affected more making them more susceptible to being ravaged by extreme

weather events and climate change (McKeever 2). It reduces the resilience of coral reefs to

bleaching events caused by elevated sea temperatures, making them more susceptible to coral

bleaching and mortality.

Maintaining healthier fish stocks imbedded in a fully functioning ocean ecosystem

and habitat is important for planetary functions like carbon storage. The role of the oceans in

the regulation of the global carbon cycle is well known for acting as both a sink and a source

of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. “It is estimated that the ocean contains about

38,000 Gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon, and this is by far the largest reservoir of carbon in the

Earth system and 6,000 Gt of carbon also lies in marine sediments” (Kurien 3). The ocean

plays a key role in the biological pump, a process by which carbon is transferred from the

surface ocean to the deep ocean through the uptake and sinking of organic matter by marine

organisms. Phytoplankton, microscopic algae that inhabit the sunlit surface waters of the

ocean, photosynthesize and assimilate CO2 into organic carbon through photosynthesis.
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When these phytoplankton die or are consumed by other organisms, their organic matter

sinks to the ocean floor, where it is buried and sequestered for long periods of time. This

process helps to remove carbon from the surface ocean and store it in the deep ocean, where

it can remain sequestered for centuries (Science Learning Hub 4). Furthermore, the ocean

acts as a reservoir of dissolved inorganic carbon, which is transported and circulated

throughout the global ocean through various physical and biological processes. Dissolved

inorganic carbon includes CO2 gas, bicarbonate ions, and carbonate ions, which are in

equilibrium with one another depending on factors such as temperature, pH, and alkalinity

(IAEA 5). Fish play crucial roles in this process by regulating the abundance and distribution

of primary producers such as phytoplankton, which are responsible for photosynthesizing and

assimilating CO2 into organic carbon. However, the depletion of key fish species due to

overfishing can disrupt the functioning of the biological pump, leading to reduced rates of

carbon sequestration and storage in the deep ocean. This can result in an accumulation of

CO2 in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and ocean acidification. All these

impacts of overfishing accelerate the decline of ocean health putting marine ecosystems and

the goods and services provided to the environment at risk.

Even though overfishing is recognized as a significant threat to marine ecosystems,

climate change and pollution also pose threats to marine ecosystems, with major

consequences on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Climate change, driven by

greenhouse gas emissions, leads to rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and altered

weather patterns, disrupting marine habitats and species distributions. Rising sea

temperatures contribute to coral bleaching, leading to widespread coral mortality and habitat

loss (EDF 2). Pollution from various sources, including industrial and agricultural runoff, and

plastic waste, further degrades marine ecosystems. The runoff from agriculture leads to

eutrophication and harmful algae blooms, depleting oxygen levels and creating dead zones
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(3). Plastic pollution poses ingestion and entanglement hazards to marine organisms, while

oil spills result in acute and long-term damage to marine habitats and wildlife. Despite these

challenges, overfishing increases the vulnerability of marine ecosystems by disrupting

ecosystem’s behavior and compromising its endurance. Decline of the fish populations

weaken ecosystem’s capacity to cope with and recover from environmental stressors, making

them more susceptible to the impacts of climate change and pollution. Addressing

overfishing through sustainable fisheries management is crucial to help lessen the combined

effects of climate change and pollution ensuring the long-term health of marine ecosystems.

The second argument reveals how overfishing creates economic challenges in coastal

communities, impacting job opportunities, income, and food security on a global scale. In

1995, fish farming was a relatively small industry, but it has grown rapidly in the last few

decades as we can see from the graph below, the increasing trend of people employed in

fisheries going from 30 million to 45 million. The fishing industry is a significant source of

employment globally, with approximately 60 million people working as fishers, according to

the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). According to a report from the

National Ocean Economics Program for the Center for the Blue Economy, “the oceans

economy comprised more than 2.7 million jobs and contributed more than $258 billion to the

GDP of the United States in 2010” (1). The oceans economy supports employment almost

two and a half times larger than other natural resources industries like farming, mining, and

forest harvesting. Approximately 5.4 million jobs in 2010 were directly and indirectly

supported by the ocean. These individuals rely on fishing as their primary livelihood,

supporting themselves and their families through the extraction of marine resources. However,

the proliferation of large-scale fishing operations has led to the depletion of fish stocks,

significantly impacting smaller-scale, community-based fishing industries. These smaller

operations often lack the resources and technological advancements of their larger
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counterparts, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of overfishing. Additionally,

ancillary industries such as fish processing plants, seafood restaurants, and equipment

manufacturers also experience declines in employment due to reduced demand. The loss of

jobs in the fishing sector often results in economic hardship and social instability, particularly

in regions where fishing is a primary source of employment. Furthermore, the economic

repercussions of overfishing affect broader economic indicators such as per capita income. A

notable example of this can be seen in the state of Kerala, India, where the depletion of fish

stocks has led to a significant decline in real per capita incomes, indicating a drop in real per

capita incomes from RS 850 to RS 420 in Kerala (Kurien 6). This sharp decrease underscores

the profound impact that overfishing can have on local economies and the livelihoods of

coastal communities. The collapse of the Atlantic Canadian cod fishery in the 1990s is also

one of the most cited examples in the world of overfishing and its economic implications

(EDF 4). Since the collapse of the cod, and the subsequent cod fishing prohibition, which has

been in effect since 1992, some fish harvesters were able to find other sources of income

from other fisheries, like lobster and prawns. But many were forced to completely give up

fishing, a way of life that has been passed down through the generations. Thousands of

people have left the fishing industry to work in other professions or trades, and in many

cases, in different regions of the nation. The economic impacts of overfishing, including

lesser fishery revenue and reduced employment within the fishing sector, highlight the urgent

need for sustainable management practices to protect coastal economies.

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The concluding argument explores the social consequences of overfishing, showing

how the decline in fish supplies affects coastal communities, threatening public health and

food security, and having an adverse effect on cultural heritage. Fish is widely looked to as a

nutrient dense food containing high quality protein, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

and micronutrients, but has only recently been recognized as having a special role in nutrition

and health (FAO 1). Fish, rich in essential vitamins, and omega-3 plays a crucial role in

ensuring adequate nutrition and well-being, particularly in developing countries where access

to diverse food sources is limited. Some countries in the world eat close to 100 kilograms of

seafood per person each year. In the chart here, we see the average per capita consumption of

fish and seafood across the world. The highest seafood consumers are countries including

Iceland, the Maldives, and Hong Kong. However, as fish populations decline, access to fresh

and nutritious seafood becomes increasingly scarce, leaving vulnerable populations at risk of

malnutrition, food insecurity, and related health complications. Stocks of tuna, one of the

most commercially valuable fish species, are surprisingly going down in many regions, with

biomass levels at or above the optimal threshold. Moreover, for sharks where populations are

rapidly declining due to overfishing and habitat degradation, this significant drop from 1970

to 2016 can also be seen from the graph given below as the biomass decrease from 2 to just

0.25. For example, species like the great hammerhead shark and the oceanic whitetip shark

have experienced significant population declines, raising concerns about their long-term

survival (Our World in Data 11).

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As fish populations decline due to excessive fishing pressure, there is a noticeable

reduction in the quantity of fish caught, leading to a supply-demand imbalance in the market.

With fewer fish being harvested, the competition for the limited supply intensifies, thereby

driving prices upwards. Consequently, consumers experience the brunt of these price hikes,

as the cost of fish rises steadily over time. Fish, once regarded as the "poor man's protein" in

Kerala, has undergone a significant transformation in its socio-economic status over the years.

In the past, fish served as a crucial source of affordable protein for many households,

particularly those with limited financial means. However, this perception has shifted as fish

prices have risen steadily over time. For instance, between 1974 and 1982, the price of fish

surged from approximately Rs. 1,260 per tonne to Rs. 2,300 per tonne, reflecting a notable

increase in its market value (Kurien 5). These social impacts of overfishing reveal a complex

web of challenges that demand comprehensive strategies to reduce social inequalities, and

ensure food security for coastal communities globally.

A potential counterargument to the significant social and economic impacts of

overfishing is that people can adopt alternative protein sources or livelihoods in response to

the decline in fish stocks. While it is true that people may seek alternative sources of protein
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or pursue different livelihoods, especially to counter this decrease in fish stocks, these

alternatives may not fully address the socio-economic and cultural identities of overfishing.

Fish holds a unique cultural heritage in many coastal communities, serving not only as a

staple food but also as a symbol of cultural identity and tradition. Furthermore, for

marginalized groups reliant on fishing for their livelihoods, transitioning to alternative

occupations as a source of income may pose significant challenges, including limited access

to resources, skills, and market opportunities. Therefore, while alternatives may exist, the

cultural and socio-economic importance of fish in coastal communities calls the need for

solutions to address the social impacts of overfishing.

As we reflect on the interconnected ecological, economic, and social consequences of

overfishing, it becomes evident that immediate action is necessary to address the negative

impact of unsustainable fishing methods on marine ecosystems and coastal communities

across the globe. Ecologically, overfishing disrupts marine food webs, depletes fish stocks,

and threatens biodiversity, putting at risk the health and resilience of marine ecosystems.

Economically, overfishing threatens the sustainability of fisheries, intensifies poverty and

food insecurity, and endangers the livelihoods of millions of people dependent on fishing for

income and sustenance. Socially, overfishing causes inequalities, and compromises food

security, posing significant challenges for coastal communities' well-being. Addressing these

multifaceted challenges requires efforts to promote sustainable fisheries management,

enhance community resilience, and foster equitable access to marine resources.

[Word Count: 3030]

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Works Citied

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2024.

Gatta, Pier Paolo. “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022.” FAO eBooks, 28

June 2022, https://www.fao.org/3/cc0461en/online/sofia/2022/status-of-

fisheryresources.html. Accessed on: 15 Apr. 2024.

Kurien, John, and T. R. Thankappan Achari. “Overfishing along Kerala Coast: Causes and

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ocean-carbon-cycle. Accessed on: 2 May 2024.

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