Every year, 92.3 million tons of sea creatures are fished from the ocean. If aquaculture is included, the total is 185 million tons (2022). Already, 38 percent of populations are considered overfished, and another 51 percent are fished to capacity.

The level of bycatch is also unimaginable: every year, hundreds of thousands of marine animals of endangered, threatened or protected species are killed in fishing gear. In addition, more and more marine habitats are being destroyed by destructive fishing practices.

For around 3.3 billion people who rely on fish for their nutrition, this overfishing is disastrous. Fish farms do not offer a solution – on the contrary, they further exacerbate the problem. This is because farmed fish often receive wild fish as feed.

We can only solve the problem together. For example, those who do not rely on marine fish for protein should avoid consuming it.

Fish Face an Uphill Battle

The Law of the Sea

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing) is widespread and poses a serious threat to the marine environment, over-exploiting fish populations, damaging ecosystems and endangering the livelihoods of coastal communities. OceanCare is committed to combating IUU fishing and calls for measures to prevent these illegal practices.

Empty Nets

Overfishing threatens marine ecosystems and their inhabitants, but also the food security of billions of people. Small-scale local fishers with their often traditional fishing methods cannot compete with large-scale foreign industrial fishing fleets which are emptying coastal areas of fish before their very eyes.

Problematic Fish Farming

Aquaculture likes to present itself as a solution, but by using wild fish as fish feed only encourages overfishing. In addition, escaped farmed fish can weaken wild populations by altering their genetic makeup and spreading disease. Food scraps, faeces and antibiotic residues pollute the water.

Damaging Noise

Underwater noise pollution also has drastic effects on fish: it disrupts communication, causes stress and changes the behavior of the animals. Their defense against predators is reduced, and mating behaviour, reproduction and the rearing of young suffer. Moreover, noise has been shown to cause malformations in fish.

How we are Tackling Overfishing

Ban Destructive Fishing Practices

With their bottom trawl nets, trawlers destroy species-rich underwater landscapes and create bleak ocean deserts – even in Marine Protected Areas. We work towards banning of fishing practices which cause great damage to the sea.

Stop Aquatic Wild Meat

Because foreign large-scale industrial fishing fleets from Europe and Asia are plundering West African fish grounds, coastal fishers often return with empty nets. To feed their families, they hunt protected animals illegally. We are tackling this problem.

Less Fish is More

Global fish consumption is growing rapidly. For some, fish is a fancy meal; for others, it is essential for survival. Fish is food with a heavy social and ecological footprint. We are all part of the problem – and part of the solution.

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Stories on fish

Facts on fish

There are around 35,000 species of fish of all sizes – from seahorses to whale sharks.

Many fish species change sex during their lifetime.

Fish react to painkillers, which makes it clear that they feel pain.

Glass fish need a very specific diet to make them glow.

Thanks to their lateral line organ, fish can sense the slightest changes in currents and pressure.

Fish protect themselves from the cold in water with an antifreeze in their blood.

Fish communicate using sounds: herrings, for example, fart – and that over three octaves.

Noise disturbs the communication and development of fish and leads to deformities.

Some fish species stretch their oral cavity when hunting and thus suck in prey.

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Fish

The Sea is Being Ruthlessly Plundered

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