The practice of overfishing involves removing fish from their natural habitat at a faster rate than they can reproduce. This results in a decrease in fish populations and has negative effects on the food chain and ecosystems. In 2018, wild-capture fisheries harvested 96.4 million tons of fish, making the fishing industry the largest remover of wild animals from their habitats. Large-scale commercial fishing practices, such as bottom-trawling and blast fishing, often cause damage to coral reefs and other marine habitats. This type of fishing also leads to the unintentional capture of non-target species like sea lions, sharks, turtles, and seabirds, resulting in severe injuries or death. The fishing industry provides income for 10-12% of the global population, and fish serve as a crucial protein source for 3 billion people. The depletion of fish stocks could lead to economic instability and a food crisis in these communities. The fishing of overexploited fish stocks has been incentivized by government subsidies for commercial fishing.
