Overfishing has been an issue for a very long time. Tuna fishing excess/dolphin killing is the first memory I have of the battle to protect the seas, and the cod industry in the Atlantic basically collapsing due to overfishing. Lobster overfishing on the east coast of the USA. Salmon runs getting smaller and smaller in Alaska.
There was an El Nino a few years back when there were news reports about the BEST FISHING in YEARS!! People on the west coast catching fish by the boatload. Species of fish never caught that far north. Trophy sized fish... Instead of putting a bit of control on this massive slaughter of fish, the government remained silent (a let them have their fun approach). I was disapointed at the greed.
The world holds the blame equally at this point in time. No excuses for 'developing countries' ignoring other countries attempts at resolving this issue.
And one cannot ignore inland waters either in this. I am currently refusing to support our state DNR via fishing licenses, after their killing of nesting cormorants, due to the resort owners crying over lost profits, "no one wants to fish here anymore, cuz the birds are taking all the fish". Baloney. There is bad fishing all over this state due to overfishing, not colonies of cormorants.
And I have to remember there are some good stories/efforts.
A couple years ago I cheered on the Australians, checking on the pursuit each day, as they chased a Nigerian flagged vessel thru the Antarctic seas in very dangerous conditions to tag a boat which was hunting Patagonian toothfish/Chilean Sea Bass in protected waters of Australia.
I remember when several Japanese and/or Korean drift fishermen boats were taken by the US (I cant remember if it was Coast Guard or Navy) for violating waters in the search for salmon. We actually shot across their bow to get them to stop and be boarded.
I remember the whales trapped in the ice in Alaska. Each day the world could tune in and see the efforts being made. I can still see the image of those huge ice breaker ships Gorbachov ordered in to help the effort. Their great gray silhouettes against the white of the snow covered ice. Yes even this whaleing country can be brought to realize the need to help conserve the resources.
Several links with relevant information:
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/OceansInDistress.php
Trawling moratorium
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00054.htm
Flags of convenience
http://wwf.org.au/articles/feature48/
An answer?
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/re...mbisr-115.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...061402455.html
http://www.spectrumtour.com/national...ional-park.htm
And a sink the pirates boats, ask questions later approach....
