Overfishing

LATEST TODAY'S CATCH

Be a Picky Eater

Apr 22, 2013 - 9:43AMWhen it comes to many of our once-favorite seafoods, there aren't always plenty more fish in the sea. In fact, some studies estimate that up to 90 percent of large predatory fish (those that eat other animals—and usually end up...
Jan 3, 2013 - 10:28AM
Buyers examine tuna lining the floor of Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan...
Sep 28, 2012 - 12:12PM
A longshoreman stands in front of a large pile of oyster shells on...

SPOTLIGHT

Really Small Fry: Shifting Baselines in Marine Fish Stocks

A public service announcement uses a dramatic example to emphasize that ocean fish aren’t as big as they used to be. Find...
Really Small Fry  Shifting Baselines in Marine Fish Stocks
Protecting Sharks  How Nets Hurt
Jan 4 2010 - 5:20pm
Tom Peschak, a photojournalist with the Save Our Seas Foundation, describes the devastating effects shark nets have on ocean life along the South African coastline. The nets were installed to protect swimmers, but the video reveals the shark nets’ damage to fish, whales, turtles and dolphins as...
Jul 26 2012 - 11:00am
A Turtle Excluder Device (TED) enables a loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) to escape from a fishing net. Technological advancements like this are helping to prevent deaths of unintended marine bycatch. Loggerhead turtles are considered to be threatened and endangered (depending on the specific...
Nov 18 2010 - 3:45pm
Seafood vendor at historic Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington (USA). The market draws both shoppers and gawkers who come to watch the gregarious crew of fishmongers.
Shark DNA Helps Catch Poachers
Sep 30 2009 - 1:14pm
Dr. Mahmood Shivji explains how shark DNA is used as evidence to prosecute shark fin poachers. More about sustainable seafood can be found in our Sustainable Seafood Section.
Jul 3 2012 - 10:23am
An albatross drowned after being accidentally caught on a longline near Brazil. Marine birds are among the species that can become bycatch. Watch a video about how scientists and fishermen are trying methods to reduce bycatch. 
Apr 6 2011 - 12:00pm
Aquaculture - a form of food production involving the cultivation of commercial fish and shellfish species under controlled conditions. Aquaculture currently takes place in contained ponds and along the coast; but offshore aquaculture has begun to gain popularity in open ocean environments. Inland...
Fish on a Farm
Jan 14 2011 - 2:27pm
As the popularity of seafood rises globally, companies are developing innovative and more efficient methods of harvesting fish to meet demand. While fish farming presents environmental concerns, experts are researching ways to make this process both profitable and eco-friendly. Explore other videos...
Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
A team from the Center for Coastal Studies works to free a one-year-old right whale from the fishing ropes wrapped and knotted around its body and flippers. The whale is Kingfisher, #3346 in the North American Right Whale Catalog.
Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
This is North Atlantic right whale #3333 who was spotted with fishing gear trailing from his mouth during an aerial survey off the coast of Georgia on January 29, 2008. Entanglement is one of the most serious threats facing North Atlantic right whales. Fortunately this individual was seen without...
Jan 26 2010 - 11:45am
This map is based on electronic tagging of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from 1996 to 2007. A team of international researchers officially classified the Atlantic bluefin as endangered in 2011. In addition to overfishing, the bluefin's defined spawning grounds can impact recovery efforts.
Nov 18 2010 - 4:49pm
Sunday, November 21 marks World Fisheries Day, an annual occasion observed in many fishing communities around the world. It’s a great opportunity—even for those of us who do not fish for a living—to pause and reflect on the importance of maintaining healthy fisheries.
Building Good Mussels
Jan 14 2011 - 12:35pm
A new wave of farming has come to the ocean. It’s called aquaculture. And it’s a way to grow and harvest mussels and other healthy, tasty types of seafood. Explore other videos that capture the beauty and mystery of the ocean realm at NOAA Ocean Today
Jan 26 2010 - 11:44am
Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) are among the many delicious and sustainable seafood choices. More about sustainable seafood can be found in our sustainable seafood featured story.
Jul 24 2012 - 2:26pm
As a consumer, you can choose what kinds of seafood to buy. Some species are in good supply and make excellent choices. Others have declined dramatically due to overfishing or environmental factors. Choosing those can add to the problem.  So choose wisely. Buy sustainable seafood—seafood...
Nov 18 2010 - 4:08pm
Senagalese fishermen unload their catch. Traditional fishing has been a critical part of Senegal’s economy, contributing to the nation’s food security and providing jobs in many communities.
Dec 21 2010 - 1:31am
A beautiful cut of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), a popular species among seafood lovers that is in severe decline. Check out our guest blog post by Oceana's Emily Fisher on the explosion of salmon farming in Chile, and learn more about making smart seafood choices in our Sustainable Seafood...