Marine fishery reserves work. In SoCal the Channel Islands were set aside as a breeding zone with very very strict regulations AND enforcement. IN a short while, it is now being suggested by those studying it that it is restocking all of socal, and maybe parts of norcal too. Making 10% of the RIGHT habitat a preserve will provide fish to catch in the other 90%. Conversely the worldwide filling of wetlands and estuaries that are baby fish growing grounds will be just as critical as the loss of the breeders in the long term survival of species. I thought everyone knew the smaller fish taste best, and have less accumulations of things we don't want to ingest lots of..... I am glad to see the great growth in catch and release fishing, for many species, to keep breeders at it!
But let's face it. Based on mostly industry based figures we fished out the George's Banks off Newfoundland, once considered the endless forests of fishing grounds. Current estimates are that Chilean Sea Bass will be commercially extinct in 3-5 years,
and that poached tonnage is double leagally claimed weight.
Where and what will the industry to/take next? I think all the scientific eveidence is overwhelming that the commercial food fishery operates at an unsustainable level.
There was a recent work published "History of the American Fishery" I think by Mike Weber which showed the decline in plain figures, the industries own figures. It is very interesting, compelling, and frightening. A similar work is "History of the American Whale Fishery", which is painful to read as one who has studied them.
happy fish huntin'!
birdfish
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