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Biodiversity

A child born today will no longer see fish on the menu by the time he reaches his 40s, unless nations around the world take serious action to stop overfishing, bycatch and the destruction of aquatic habitats, according to a report in the journal Science.

Marine ecosystems face potential “global collapse” by 2048, the report found, with 29 percent of the world’s fish species already in a state of collapse today (defined by reaching just 10 percent of previous levels). Researchers analyzed dozens of studies and United Nations fishing data to reach the conclusion that widespread collapse of the world’s diverse fishing stocks was fast approaching.

But experts say this conclusion does not have to pan out, if nations take steps to reduce bycatch (catching fish other than those you are fishing for by using enormous nets and trawlers); curb overfishing; and protect habitat.

One place where fishing stocks are not nearing collapse is in the United States. International fishery groups could learn from actions taken here how to better preserve species elsewhere.

A copy of the report can be found here.

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To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org