DK Earth: Fishing

Overfishing is the removal of so many fish from the oceans that there are not enough fish left to breed. Many overfished species, such as cod, may eventually die out. Overfishing is happening because of the demand for fish to feed the world’s population, and the efficiency of the modern fishing industry.

Modern fishing fleets work both in coastal waters and far out at sea, using sonar devices to locate shoals of fish, and a variety of lines, traps, and nets. Different kinds of floating nets are used to catch fish at the surface and in mid-waters. Bag-shaped trawl nets, dragged along the seabed, capture bottom-dwellers.

Fish farms, where salmon, trout, catfish, crayfish, and shrimp are reared in pens, ponds, and cages, are becoming more important as the world’s seas are fished out.