Wednesday May 14, 2003 at 1:38 PM
Predatory fish down by 90%
Appearing in The Environment
A new study published in Nature (vol 423, p 280) and reported by New Scientist, concludes that the global population of large predatory fish has fallen by 90% in the last 50 years. Effected species include sharks, marlin, swordfish and tuna. The 10 year study by Ransom Myers and Boris Worm also shows that the surviving members of the population are only one-fifth to one-half the size of earlier individuals.
Another example of the impotence of governmental efforts to save global fisheries from destruction by a commercial fishing industry that can destroy any given population or resource quicker than the necessary regulatory framework can be established. Quoting Myers, “I think it means we have to fish a lot less.” In other words, we better find something else to eat.
