Overfishing

LATEST TODAY'S CATCH

Be a Picky Eater

Apr 22, 2013 - 9:43AMWhen it comes to many of our once-favorite seafoods, there aren't always plenty more fish in the sea. In fact, some studies estimate that up to 90 percent of large predatory fish (those that eat other animals—and usually end up...
Jan 3, 2013 - 10:28AM
Buyers examine tuna lining the floor of Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan...
Sep 28, 2012 - 12:12PM
A longshoreman stands in front of a large pile of oyster shells on...

SPOTLIGHT

Really Small Fry: Shifting Baselines in Marine Fish Stocks

A public service announcement uses a dramatic example to emphasize that ocean fish aren’t as big as they used to be. Find...
Really Small Fry  Shifting Baselines in Marine Fish Stocks
Marine Forensics
Jan 14 2011 - 1:32pm
Forensics is a key tool for enforcing the laws and treaties that protect marine animals. Investigators in a recent case used DNA analysis to track down and convict sea turtle poachers. All seven species of marine turtle are protected under international treaty. Explore other videos that capture...
Whale Rescue
Jan 14 2011 - 11:50am
When a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale becomes entangled in fishing gear, members of a response team from the Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network spring into action. In the past 25 years, dozens of whales have been freed from life-threatening entanglements. Explore other...
Reducing Bycatch
Jan 14 2011 - 1:18pm
Bycatch, the name given to fish and other ocean animals that are caught unintentionally, is a huge problem. Scientists and fishermen are joining forces to design new nets that catch only the targeted species, like haddock. Explore other videos that capture the beauty and mystery of the ocean realm...
Nov 18 2010 - 6:34pm
Bycatch, or accidentally caught species, can make up a very high percentage of the haul in shrimp trawl nets. However, some of these “trash” species are now being used, rather than discarded, and new technologies can reduce the catch of non-target species. Learn more in our featured story about...
Apr 6 2011 - 12:00pm
Aquaculture - a form of food production involving the cultivation of commercial fish and shellfish species under controlled conditions. Aquaculture currently takes place in contained ponds and along the coast; but offshore aquaculture has begun to gain popularity in open ocean environments. Inland...
Feb 2 2010 - 11:10am
This photo of a freshly cut dorsal fin from a scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini), was taken in 2006 on a long-lined fishing boat in Cocos Island, 300 miles off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Cocos was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and is the home to one of the world's richest...
Apr 17 2013 - 2:09pm
We began this journey three months ago, a team of scientists and filmmakers traveling the East African coastline by boat to document and research the status of coral reefs from South Africa to Kenya. We have observed a lot of changes in the coral reef communities as we travel north. Some of these...
Jan 26 2010 - 11:46am
This illustration shows whalers of the early 1800s with their highly profitable catch.
Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
This map is based on electronic tagging of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from 1996 to 2007. A team of international researchers officially classified the Atlantic bluefin as endangered in 2011. In addition to overfishing, the bluefin's defined spawning grounds can impact recovery efforts.
Nov 18 2010 - 3:45pm
Seafood vendor at historic Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington (USA). The market draws both shoppers and gawkers who come to watch the gregarious crew of fishmongers.
Jul 5 2011 - 2:33pm
In the dark, cold waters 600 meters (nearly 2000 feet) below the ocean's surface, things happen slowly. Orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus), deep ocean fish that were once known as "slimeheads" because of the mucous-producing canals on their heads, grow and mature at a sluggish rate compared to...
Shark Fin Genetics
Oct 18 2010 - 4:27pm
Dr. Demian Chapman of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at New York’s Stony Brook University explains how DNA extraction from shark fins can identify the species of shark and where the shark was born. DNA research is very important to shark conservation efforts because it provides...
100 000 000 to 000 000 001  Rethink the Shark
Dec 18 2009 - 3:19pm
Who should fear whom? Less than ten humans are killed by shark attacks. Yet millions of sharks are killed each year by humans. More about the great white shark can be found in our Great White Shark featured story.
Jul 24 2012 - 2:26pm
As a consumer, you can choose what kinds of seafood to buy. Some species are in good supply and make excellent choices. Others have declined dramatically due to overfishing or environmental factors. Choosing those can add to the problem.  So choose wisely. Buy sustainable seafood—seafood...
May 21 2010 - 12:42pm
View the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch National Guide.
Nov 18 2010 - 4:49pm
Sunday, November 21 marks World Fisheries Day, an annual occasion observed in many fishing communities around the world. It’s a great opportunity—even for those of us who do not fish for a living—to pause and reflect on the importance of maintaining healthy fisheries.