Stop Overfishing Before the World's Oceans Collapse

The Issue

Many governments are paying their fishing fleets to fish longer, harder, and farther than would otherwise be possible. If this level of fishing continues, the fish we eat today could be gone within our lifetimes.

More than a billion people rely on the oceans for their main source of protein. What will happen to these people if the ocean is empty?

U.S. leadership is needed more now than ever before. Leading scientists project that the world’s commercial fish populations could be beyond recovery within decades if current trends continue. The United States must send a clear signal that a genuine “win” on fisheries subsidies remains a core priority of its international trade agenda.  

We need stricter limits on the billions of dollars of government subsidies that are driving the world’s oceans to collapse. Take action and urge the World Trade Organization to put a limit on fishery subsidies. Tell WTO Ambassador Ron Kirk we need to save our fish for the future. 

avatar of the starter
OceanaPetition StarterAt <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a> I am Senior Director of Client Services. Before joining the team at <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a>, I worked as Senior Campaigner at Care2 and for two years I worked as Senior Consultant at M+R Strategic Services. My foray into online organizing began in 2004, when I co-founded Equality Ohio, an LGBT rights organization and a member organization of the national Equality Federation. In my spare time I tend a small flock of chickens in my Oakland backyard.
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This petition had 16,547 supporters

The Issue

Many governments are paying their fishing fleets to fish longer, harder, and farther than would otherwise be possible. If this level of fishing continues, the fish we eat today could be gone within our lifetimes.

More than a billion people rely on the oceans for their main source of protein. What will happen to these people if the ocean is empty?

U.S. leadership is needed more now than ever before. Leading scientists project that the world’s commercial fish populations could be beyond recovery within decades if current trends continue. The United States must send a clear signal that a genuine “win” on fisheries subsidies remains a core priority of its international trade agenda.  

We need stricter limits on the billions of dollars of government subsidies that are driving the world’s oceans to collapse. Take action and urge the World Trade Organization to put a limit on fishery subsidies. Tell WTO Ambassador Ron Kirk we need to save our fish for the future. 

avatar of the starter
OceanaPetition StarterAt <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a> I am Senior Director of Client Services. Before joining the team at <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a>, I worked as Senior Campaigner at Care2 and for two years I worked as Senior Consultant at M+R Strategic Services. My foray into online organizing began in 2004, when I co-founded Equality Ohio, an LGBT rights organization and a member organization of the national Equality Federation. In my spare time I tend a small flock of chickens in my Oakland backyard.
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Ron Kirk
Ron Kirk
WTO Ambassador

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Petition created on May 4, 2011