"In 2006, a study published by a colleague suggested that by 2048 we would be in trouble," said Dr. Ussif Rashid Sumaila, an associate professor of economics at the University of British Columbia. "Most of the world's fisheries would have crashed."
The estimates were that by midcentury the global fish catch would be just 10 per cent of average annual catch since 1950. The study sparked heated debate within the fishing industry, with some researchers questioning the findings because they were so alarming.
Yet Dr. Sumaila believes the situation is even more dire than had been predicted. "I think that if we do not do something, this is an optimistic date," he said.
At least 63 per cent of global stock was overfished. The current fishing effort – based on the number of fishermen at sea and how long they work to meet the demand for fish – is up to three times the standard of what is generally considered sustainable fishing.
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