Overfishing

Overfishing occurs when too many fish are caught too quickly, causing fish stocks to dwindle to the point where they can no longer recover. One of the main causes is that fishing policy usually sets fishing quotas higher than recommended by science. Other causes include illegal fishing and a lack of controls. Overfishing endangers marine biodiversity, food security, and the livelihoods of many people in coastal regions worldwide. It also threatens the stability of ecosystems by removing key species on too large a scale.

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