The Unintended Consequences of Overfishing
It's estimated there are more than 2 million species living in ocean waters. Of those species, nine out of ten haven't been fully identified yet.
Our oceans are not only home to a remarkable array of life, they provide us with life too.
Oceans regulate our climate and produce over half of the oxygen we breathe. It's a delicate ecosystem vital to life on earth. Without a thriving ocean, life on land would be much more difficult.
Today, this delicate ecosystem is under threat.
Vertebrate marine life has declined by 36% between 1970 and 2012, with many species close to extinction.
Seafood is the major source of protein for 1.5 billion people. Declining fish stocks risks a humanitarian crisis on a massive scale.
The biggest cause of all of this?
Overfishing.
Catching fish isn't inherently bad for the ocean. It becomes a problem when fish are caught faster than stocks can replenish.
This is bad news for coastal communities reliant on fish to survive. But it also leads to some unintended consequences. Overfishing is one of the primary reasons for the increase in pirates off the coast of Somalia.
The increase in competition from fishing vessels has made it harder for local fishermen to make ends meet. As a result, piracy became a way to provide for their communities.
Overfishing presents another stark issue. We rely on the oxygen created by the multitude of marine life which lives in the ocean.
Should stocks fail to replenish, it's not just marine life that will become extinct. It could be us too.