Rocking the Boat: Conserving Fisheries and Protecting Jobs
Author(s)
McGinn, Anne Platt
Abstract
The fishing industry across the globe is affected by severe resource depletion. Fishing disputes between nations are common, and many traditional fisheries have been disrupted by exposure to global market forces. A majority of the world’s marine fish stocks have reached peak production and many are in decline. The fishing industry is heavily over-capitalized, with huge factory ships capable of decimating stocks. Government subsidies create further incentive for over-fishing, while important breeding areas such as coral reefs, tidal estuaries, and oceanfloor environments are being ravaged by indiscriminate fishing methods and continental runoff pollution. This article explores the dimensions of the problem, and suggests policy remedies to conserve fish stocks and create a sustainable industry.