Fishing problems: Bigger nets, faster boats

Advances in technology have led to a massive expansion in fishing effort over the past 50 years.

Powerful motors have replaced sails; boats have become much bigger; strong plastics have replaced natural fibres for nets; onboard refrigeration allows fishers to stay at sea for longer; and airplanes, sonar, and even satellites can help fishers find fish.

These developments have spurred a huge expansion in fishing effort over the last 30-40 years. Today’s huge industrial fishing fleets set thousands of kilometres of strong, invisible nets each day - some large enough to hold 12 jumbo jets - as well as thousands of kilometres of longlines with tens of thousands of hooks.

The fish don’t stand a chance
According to one report, fish populations decline by 80% within only 10-15 years after large fishing vessels move into an area. And the biomass of the large predator fish in the oceans is estimated to be only around 10% of pre-industrial levels.

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