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modern technology and search for short-term benefits, 

 coupled with continuous government support for otherwise 

 uneconomic production, has had a devastating impact on 

 many important fish stocks. Commercial fleets have 

 driven some species to commercial extinction and sometimes 

 close to biological extinction...'" 



Overfishing is a self-destructive cycle of exploitation, in 

 which insatiable demand and rising prices for fish lead to more 

 intense fishing on dwindling stocks, which in turn gives rise to 

 still higher prices; and thus even more intense exploitation. 

 The inevitable consequence has been the decline, and in some 

 cases, the collapse of many major fish stocks around the world. 



Though fish declines are often well documented, very little is 

 known of the overall impacts on marine species not targeted 

 for commercial exploitation, particularly slow growing, slow 

 reproducing species. Bycatch, discards and waste are rampant 

 in many large-scale commercial fisheries. So little is known of 

 the dynamics and interdependence of marine species that, even 

 where relatively good estimates of catch and bycatch do exist, 

 it is difficult, if not impossible, to assess the long term risks 

 to affected marine species. 



The uncertainties surrounding the impacts of fishing on the 

 world's oceans are further compounded by the effects of other 

 human activities. Global warming, ozone depletion, marine 



