doubled. In 1989 though, world fish production first peaked, and then began to shrink. While this decrease has not been precipitous, according to United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates the declines have been significant ("The Tragedy," 1994, pp. 21-24). The 1993 per capita seafood catch was 9 percent below that of 1988 (Brown & Kane, 1994, pp. 30-33). According to Lester Brown of the Worldwatch Institute, "Short of a dramatic slowdown in the world population growth, a substantial decline in seafood supply per person appears inevitable" (Connor, 1994, pp. 18-19)."
With global fish stocks under stress, conservationists and scientists fear that the world's overexploited oceans could become the next major ecological concern. In fact, as an environmental problem, the ailing oceans could become more of a problem than deforestation. Over half the globe's human population depends on fish for most of its animal protein. Further, for many people in developing nations, fish is often the only source of animal protein. Clearly, the question of whether or not the oceans can be productively managed will have considerable implications for much of humanity.
Marine biologists at the FAO have reported that almost all of 200 monitored fisheries worldwide are being fully exploited. Moreover, of these, one in three is either depleted or heavily over-exploited. The world's 17 major oceanic fisheries are all being fished either at or beyond capacity. The FAO has also determined that 9 of these major fisheries are currently in a state of decline (Connor, 1994, pp. 18-19).
One common refrain among fishermen at present typically relates to the fact that they seem to be working twice as hard for half the number of fish that they caught just a few years ago. Moreover, many complain that the fish which are being caught mostly consist of "trash fish"--species that people do not eat and fishermen would prefer to avoid ...