Something Fishy: Tuna catch atlas

A visual history of the industry

Posted by Sarah van Schagen at 7:08 AM on 09 Feb 2007

Read more about: oceans | fishing

Avast, me hearties! Seems the landlubbers 'round here have it in for me column. But I refuse to Arrr. I. P.

I've returned, peg-leg and all, with a quick post about the atlas resources on the fisheries pages of the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization. These maps illustrate tuna and billfish catches over time and by fishing method.

As you can see below, the use of purse seine nets -- a method that results in large amounts of bycatch (including dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, and juvenile fish) -- has increased dramatically, even in the last few decades. That's just one example of the depths of these charts.

As usual, I recommend the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch resources for more information about the various fishing methods used by commercial fisheries and for the ever-handy pocket guide for all your restaurant and fish-counter needs.

chart of purse seine catches

For story: Something Fishy: Tuna catch atlas
3 Comments | Post a Comment

Well, Cap'n

I'm done eating ocean fish. At this rate, everyone will done eating it within the next few decades.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 8:16 AM on 09 Feb 2007

commercial fish is probably

even worse than factory farming

I teach environmental economics and blog at www.voicesofreason.info.

by Jason D Scorse at 10:17 AM on 09 Feb 2007

True that, Jason

at least it can be in many if not most cases. The key is sustainability. The argument comes down to efficiency. A corn field is as biologically impoverished as a parking lot, sans just one species. We accept that destruction of the natural world to feed ourselves and look to, or hope for sustainable ways to do it. If crops can be grown sustainably, fish can also. What is more likely to happen?

The growing billions of people eating more and more fish products will, in the span of a few decades, be convinced to voluntarily sacrifice their desires and go vegan thanks to ongoing educational efforts by vegetarians.
Sustainable ways to produce and harvest these products will be mandated and implemented.
The ocean fisheries will all collapse sometime in the next 40 years.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 11:34 AM on 09 Feb 2007

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