The End Of The Line: How Overfishing Is Changing the World and What We Eat

Science News,  Dec 23, 2006  

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THE END OF THE LINE: How Overfishing Is Changing the World and What We Eat

CHARLES CLOVER

More than 75 percent of the world's fish populations are overfished. At the current rate of depletion, fish stocks will collapse within 50 years, according to the latest predictions. In this sobering account, Clover, an environmental journalist, reviews the many threats to wild fish such as already-endangered tuna and salmon. He examines the sociopolitical ramifications of fishing, as wealthier nations exploit the waters of poorer countries. He profiles the North Sea and illustrates how its growing problems with muddiness and the over growth of algae are direct consequences of overfishing during the past 2 centuries. He reviews how increasingly sophisticated fishing tactics, such as global-positioning systems, sonar, and three-dimensional underwater mapping, are reducing risks to fishers and leading to more-abundant catches. The United States contributes to the threat through the consumption of endangered fish in high-end restaurants as well as in the lowly can of tuna. Clover examines the feasibility of setting up ocean preserves and fish farms to ensure fish for future generations. The New Press, 2006, 386 p., hardcover, $26.95.

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