Overfishing is the act whereby fish stocks are depleted to unacceptable levels. Resource depletion, low biological growth rates, and critically low biomass levels result from overfishing. For example, overfishing of sharks has led to the upset of entire marine ecosystems.(1)

The ability of a fishery to recover from overfishing depends on whether the ecosystem's conditions are suitable for the recovery. Dramatic changes in species composition can result in an ecosystem shift, where other equilibrium energy flows involve species compositions different from those that had been present before the depletion of the original fish stock. For example, once trout have been overfished, carp might take over in a way that makes it impossible for the trout to re-establish a breeding population. (2)

According to a 2008 UN report, the world's fishing fleets are losing US$50 billion each year through depleted stocks and poor fisheries management. The report, produced jointly by the World Bank and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), asserts that half the world's fishing fleet could be scrapped with no change in catch. In addition, the biomass of global fish stocks have been allowed to run down to the point where it is no longer possible to catch the amount of fish that could be caught.(3) Increased incidence of schistosomiasis in Africa has been linked to declines of fish species that eat the snails carrying the disease-causing parasites.(4) Massive growth of jellyfish populations threaten fish stocks, as they compete with fish for food, eat fish eggs, and poison or swarm fish, and can survive in oxygen depleted environments where fish cannot; they wreak massive havoc on commercial fisheries. Overfishing eliminates a major jellyfish competitor and predator exacerbating the jellyfish population explosion.(2)

In 2008, fishing limits for the Blue Finned Tuna were defined in order for the population of this species to return to normal. The fishing limit that scientists recommended the EU stay below in order to deter from a collapse of the fish species in Europe was 10,000 tonnes. Despite the scientists recommendations, the EU fishing ministers set a fishing limit that exceeds over six times that.

The majority of what is fished is something called ‘bi-catch' which is the catching of marine creatures that the fishers did not want. These now dead creatures are thrown back into the sea. Typically, shrimp trawlers throw 80-90% of the marine creatures caught back overboard. This means that 9 out of 10 of the marine wildlife that is caught, is thrown back into the ocean and wasted. (5)

I am asking for you to sign this petition in order for the issue to be brought up by the UK Parliment. 

Please watch the attached video by Ocean 2012 to understand more.

(Or click here to view it on Youtube)

(1) Scales, Helen (29 March 2007). "Shark Declines Threaten Shellfish Stocks, Study Says". National Geographic News. Retrieved 5 January 2012.

(2) Wikipedia. Retrieved 11 December 2013.

(3) Black, Richard (8 October 2008). "Fisheries waste costs billions". BBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2012.

(4) Owen, James. "Overfishing Is Emptying World's Rivers, Lakes, Experts Warn".National Geographic News. Retrieved 16 October 2013.

(5) Ocean2012 (May 21st 2012). "End Overfishing". Youtube. Retrieved 11 December 2013. (See Video)