{"id":2504,"date":"2020-06-24T15:30:17","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T15:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/?page_id=2504"},"modified":"2025-04-25T11:35:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T18:35:32","slug":"end-destructive-fishing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/end-destructive-fishing\/","title":{"rendered":"End Destructive Fishing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n\t\tHelp Us End Destructive Fishing\n\t<\/h1>\n

\n\t\tDestructive fishing is among the most significant threats to productive oceans and healthy wildlife populations. Overfishing – catching more fish than the ocean can produce – has been an ongoing challenge for fisheries managers for decades.\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSupport Us\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t

About 25% of U.S. fish populations are overfished, and 90% of global fish populations are fully-fished or overfished, which has led to the collapse of many fisheries and ecologically-important fish species. Even when fisheries are well-managed, illegal ‘pirate’ fishing can threaten ecosystems and fishers alike. An astonishing 20% of wild-caught seafood imported to the U.S is estimated to originate from pirate fishing practices.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\"Photo:\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPhoto: Brian Skerry\n\t

Some fishing methods, such as bottom trawling, also cause tremendous damage to the surrounding ecosystems. Bottom trawling is an industrial fishing method in which a large net with heavy weights is dragged across the seafloor, scooping up everything in its path. These nets are capable of destroying enormous swaths of fragile seafloor habitats, including fragile cold-water coral<\/a> and sponge ecosystems.\u00a0 Once destroyed, these ancient and ecologically vital communities may take decades or longer to recover. Bottom trawling, as well as longlining and other fishing methods, are also notoriously unselective, catching and killing large numbers of non-target species, or bycatch, such as non-target fish species, corals, sponges, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. Lost and abandoned gear can continue to ghost fish for years, entangling marine life drawn to the derelict nets.<\/p>\n

Marine Conservation Institute has a long history of fighting against destructive fishing practices. We conduct research on the environmental impacts of fisheries, build predictive habitat models<\/a> to identify biologically rich areas of the seafloor, and continue to advocate for the increased protection of ecologically important deep-sea habitats. As a leader in the California Seamounts Coalition<\/a>, we work to conserve vital seamount habitats off the coast of California and beyond from destructive fishing practices. We also work closely with the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition<\/a> to eliminate bottom trawling and protect deep sea corals and other vulnerable marine ecosystems on the high seas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t

Destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling not only deplete fish populations but also devastate fragile ecosystems, such as cold-water coral habitats. A recent study, co-authored by Marine Conservation Institute, highlights the critical need for enhanced monitoring and enforcement to safeguard these vulnerable marine ecosystems. Strengthening compliance is essential to preserving these vital habitats.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExplore Our Latest Research\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Photo:\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n

Monitoring & Enforcement<\/a><\/h3>Learn More<\/a>\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Emperors\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n

California Seamounts<\/a><\/h3>Learn More<\/a>\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Everyone\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n

Protect the High Seas<\/a><\/h3>Learn More<\/a>\t\n\t

Help us end unsustainable fishing across the globe. Please visit our Take Action<\/a> page or Donate<\/a> to make our oceans healthier for us and future generations.<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSupport Us\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Help Us End Destructive Fishing Destructive fishing is among the most significant threats to productive oceans and healthy wildlife populations. Overfishing – catching more fish than the ocean can produce – has been an ongoing challenge for fisheries managers for decades. Support Us About 25% of U.S. fish populations are overfished, and 90% of global…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2504","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nEnd Destructive Fishing » Marine Conservation Institute<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/end-destructive-fishing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"End Destructive Fishing » Marine Conservation Institute\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Help Us End Destructive Fishing Destructive fishing is among the most significant threats to productive oceans and healthy wildlife populations. 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