The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization defines sustainable fisheries as resources that can be harvested to meet the needs of today’s generation without compromising the ability of future generations to harvest fish for their needs. A sustainable fishery requires the conservation of fish stocks and the preservation of the marine environment but still allows the fishing industry to remain economically viable and fishing communities to maintain their social and cultural heritage.
The Threat of Overfishing
During the second half of the 20th century, the fishing industry developed a range of technological advances. Smaller boats were equipped with better engines, mechanical fishing equipment and sonar units that allowed crews to spot schools of fish swimming below the water's surface. At the other end of the spectrum, factory trawlers, which are massive vessels able to catch, clean, process and refrigerate huge amounts of fish, began operating in oceans throughout the world. As more and more fish were caught, populations of many species began a serious spiral of decline.
The Sustainable Fisheries Act
Congress passed the Sustainable Fisheries Act in 1996 to stop overfishing and ensure the future of U.S. fisheries. The National Marine Fisheries Service, a federal regulatory agency that oversees commercial and recreational fishing, was required to define overfishing for each species based on historical catch records and current landing data. Fisheries service officials then developed management plans to conserve species that were defined as over-fished. The Sustainable Fisheries Act also required federal regulators to develop measures to protect essential marine habitats.
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