The Hidden Costs of Commercial Fishing: Sustaining Economies and Ecosystems
Geography in the News is an educational series offered by the American Association of Geographers for teachers and students in all subjects. We include vocabulary, discussion, and assignment ideas at the end of each article.
By Adeti Afe
Fishing has been a part of human life for thousands of years, helping to feed societies while maintaining a balance in marine ecosystems. Traditional fishing usually keeps fish populations in check. But now, methods for industrial-level commercial fishing can cause serious harm to marine ecosystems. Scientists warn that some of the world’s most important fishing areas and habitats could be permanently damaged due to issues like overfishing, habitat destruction, and the problems caused by aquaculture.
Overfishing disrupts the balance of marine life. When certain fish populations decline, predators lose their prey, and smaller fish can overpopulate. This creates even more problems in the ecosystem. Coral reefs, for instance, rely on fish to control the growth of algae. Without enough fish, algae can grow uncontrollably, killing the reef’s ecosystem.
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that more than one-third of global fisheries are overfished. Over the past 50 years, the number of overfished areas has tripled. A major factor contributing to this is bycatch, which is the unintentional capture of animals like sea turtles, dolphins, and sharks in fishing nets. Millions of animals are killed this way each year, adding to the damage in already struggling ecosystems. Sea turtles are often caught unintentionally by getting tangled in nets and are harmed before they can be freed. Similarly, endangered species such as certain whales and dolphins suffer high mortality rates due to poor fishing practices. Bycatch damages the biodiversity necessary for healthy ecosystems.
The methods used in industrial fishing often cause harm to underwater habitats. Bottom trawling, for example, involves dragging heavy nets along the seafloor. While effective at capturing fish, this practice devastates coral reefs and seagrass beds, which are essential habitats for many marine species.
The Complex World of Fish Farming
To meet the growing global demand for seafood, many businesses have turned to aquaculture, also known as fish farming. On the surface, aquaculture appears to be a solution to overfishing, but it introduces its own set of environmental and ethical concerns. Farmed fish are often raised in overcrowded enclosures, which can lead to water pollution from waste.
Aquaculture relies heavily on fishmeal and fish oil derived from wild-caught fish, which means it continues to put pressure on already overfished stocks. Escaped farmed fish can further disrupt ecosystems by competing with native species for resources or introducing genetic and behavioral differences that harm wild populations.
Finding a Better Way
The negative effects of commercial fishing extend beyond the environment, impacting human communities. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing increases the problem. Operating outside the bounds of international and local laws, IUU fishing often targets the waters of vulnerable nations. This practice robs local fishers of their resources and disrupts efforts to maintain sustainable fishing practices.
Several actionable steps can mitigate the damage caused by commercial fishing. Stricter regulations on fish catch limits and the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) can help ecosystems recover and maintain biodiversity. MPAs provide safe zones where marine life can thrive without the pressure of fishing.
Technological advancements can also play a role by including selective fishing gear that can reduce bycatch. Consumers can make a difference by choosing sustainably sourced seafood, certified by organizations such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
Commercial fishing is essential for feeding millions of people around the world, but it comes at a cost. Our oceans, and the communities that depend on them, are under serious pressure from overfishing, habitat destruction, bycatch, and unsustainable fish farming. These practices are pushing marine ecosystems to their breaking point. The good news is that we still have a chance to make a difference. By enforcing smarter regulations, using better technology, and making informed choices as consumers, we can create a fishing industry that works well with the environment. If we act now, we can protect the health of our oceans and ensure they continue to provide for generations to come.
To get a glimpse of fish habitats and fishing areas mapped worldwide, use the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Essential Fish Habitat tool.
And that is Geography in the News, updated January 31, 2024.
Material in this article comes from “Gone Fishing, or, Who Will Catch the Last One?” (1999), an original article for Geography in the News by Neal Lineback, Appalachian State University.
Sources Consulted for this Article
- World Wildlife Fund. 2024. “Overfishing.” World Wildlife Fund. 2024. https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing.
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2020). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020: Sustainability in action. FAO.
https://www.fao.org/3/ca9229en/ca9229en.pdf - Marine Stewardship Council. (n.d.). Sustainable seafood. Marine Stewardship Council. https://www.msc.org/
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2019). Overfishing and the future of global fish populations. NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/resources-fishing/commercial-fishing
- Martinez-Porchas, Marcel, and Luis R. Martinez-Cordova. 2012. “World Aquaculture: Environmental Impacts and Troubleshooting Alternatives.” The Scientific World Journal 2012, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1100/2012/389623.
- 2014. “Biodiversity Loss.” Parley. 2014. https://parley.tv/threats/biodiversity-loss.
Vocabulary and Terms
- Overfishing: Catching fish faster than they can reproduce.
- Bycatch: Sea creatures caught accidentally in fishing nets.
- Bottom trawling: A harmful fishing method where nets are dragged along the ocean floor.
- Aquaculture: Raising fish in farms for food, also known as fish farming.
- Fishmeal: A food made from ground-up fish, often used to feed farmed fish.
- IUU fishing: Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing that breaks fishing laws.
- Marine protected area (MPA): Parts of the ocean where fishing is restricted or banned to protect ecosystems.
- Marine Stewardship Council (MSC): An organization that certifies seafood as sustainable.
Questions for Discussion and Further Study
- What are some of the main environmental issues caused by commercial fishing, and how do they affect marine life?
- The article mentions how overfishing impacts local fishing communities and their ability to make a living. How do you think these communities might respond?
- Do you believe fish farming could be a solution to overfishing? Why or why not?
- What actions can governments, companies, and individuals take to make commercial fishing more sustainable for future generations?
