Commercial fishing operations emanating from Port La Bayou, self-proclaimed “Seafood Capitol of Alabama” (pictured) and from many other port cities around the Gulf of Mexico, and indeed around the globe are plunging the majority of the world’s fisheries into a state of collapse. Too many boats are chasing too few fish.

Modern fishing techniques have enabled humans to catch more fish than ever before, and the once seemingly abundant ocean is now being stripped of life. In addition to the vast numbers of target fish being caught by today’s fishermen, there are also non-target casualties. “Bycatch” is the name that fisheries have given to sea life that is caught, yet not wanted at the time and may include dolphins, sea turtles, sea birds, and starfish. Many of the fish species currently in decline serve as important food sources for sea animals who, unlike humans, have no other food choices.

The effects of overfishing on marine animals are obvious:  fur-seal populations have not increased despite a long-standing ban on commercial hunting; the number of Steller’s sea lions, which feed mostly on pollack (the number one ingredient in frozen fish sticks and served by fast food chains), has plunged 80% since the 1970s, and seabirds such as the red-legged kittiwake are also in trouble. 

Learn more about what you can do to help animals impacted by commercial fishing operations.

“Boiled Shrimp, grilled shrimp, flamed shirmp, BBQ’d shrimp…..”