Fishing on the high seas far from land is dangerous and expensive, and it consumes large amounts of fossil fuel. Fishermen would be unlikely to venture out on the high seas if fish were still abundant in more productive nearshore waters. High-seas bottom trawling is a relatively new industry, having begun in the 1950s when an increasing number of nations over-fished their coastal fisheries. They built larger and more powerful vessels and developed fishing gears that were more robust, such as rockhopper trawls, huge nets and stronger cables. Governments further fueled this move with grants and subsidies.
Why the World Needs a Time Out on High Seas Bottom Trawling
Date: June 1, 2005