Fisheries

There has been concern about the impact of fishing since at least the end of the 19th century. The arrival of steam power brought a dramatic increase in the harvest from the sea, up to 400% in 30 years at some ports.

Governments began to be concerned that certain species would be fished so heavily that their populations would fall drastically, to such a level that there could be no profit in fishing. They need to be able to predict what would happen and be able to set targets to prevent this.

The pressure of modern fishing methods has become too much for some fish populations to bear. Many fisheries have collapsed.

To be successful fisheries management must deal with the social as well as the biological implications. The livelihoods of fishing communities are threatened if conservation regulations are too drastic and threatened if nothing is done.

Fishermen consider themselves bound by a decision-making process that is largely outside their control. They are asked to dump dead fish caught over a certain quota and sometimes they are confined to port while ships from other countries remove protected stock. Many feel locked into a system that is careering towards the commercial extinction of fish stocks and their livelihood.

Up to now the policy has largely been to react to events. In the future it is hoped to see firm objectives pursued in order to benefit the marine life of the seas and the people around the coastline.