FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department 2007:

"Over the past 10-15 years, the proportion of over exploited and depleted stocks has remained unchanged, after showing a marked increase during the 1970s and 1980s. It is estimated that in 2005, as in recent years, around one-quarter of the stock groups monitored by FAO were underexploited or moderately exploited and could perhaps produce more, whereas about half of the stocks were fully exploited and therefore producing catches that were at, or close to, their maximum sustainable limits, with no room for further expansion. The remaining stocks were either over exploited, depleted or recovering from depletion and thus were yielding less than their maximum potential owing to excess fishing pressure. The situation seems more serious for certain fishery resources that are exploited solely or partially in the high seas and, in particular, for straddling stocks and for highly migratory oceanic sharks. This confirms earlier observations that the maximum wild capture fishery potential from the world’s oceans has probably been reached and reinforces the calls for more cautious and effective fisheries management to rebuild depleted stocks and prevent the decline of those being exploited at or close to their maximum potential."

Citation and/or URL

FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department 2007, The state of the world's fisheries and aquaculture 2006. Fisheries and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy.  

Spatial Coverage

Global

Temporal Coverage

Last 10-15 years 

Update Frequency

Other Information