Fish stocks are declining, mainly due to overfishing. This can lead to:
Some fish species disappearing or going extinct, like cod in the north-west Atlantic.
Disruption of ocean food chains, affecting other aquatic species.
Fewer fish available for human consumption, especially for populations relying on fish as a primary food source.
To prevent this, it is essential to maintain fish stocks at sustainable levels, where breeding continues. Sustainable fisheries ensure the fish population size doesn’t decrease by catching no more fish than are born
Controlling net size and implementing fishing quotas are key to maintaining sustainable fish stocks
Increasing the gaps in fishing nets helps by:
Allowing unwanted species to escape, reducing accidental deaths, and protecting larger species
Enabling juvenile fish to escape, giving them a chance to reach breeding age and replenish the population
In addition, fishing quotas limit the number and size of fish caught in certain areas to prevent overfishing