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 News
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 November 15, 2011
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Small Fish Also At Risk of Collapse
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Reporting on two recent studies, US-based environmental science
publication Mongabay described how human activities are placing the
survival of smaller marine fish such as anchovies, sardines, mackerel,
and herring at risk. The first research, conducted by Australian
scientists, found that even so-called sustainable fishing practices are
actually pushing many of these species toward extinction.
They
also noted that smaller fish currently comprise about 30% of all that
are caught for either human consumption or use in livestock and farmed
fish feed. The second study, conducted by US scientists, revealed that
despite a greater resiliency, small fish are as vulnerable as their
larger counterparts to population declines, with severe impact to marine
ecosystems along the way.
Researcher and study co-author Dr.
Malin Pinsky of Stanford University in California, USA, stated, "The
important lesson is that all species of fishes can collapse once humans
decide to eat or use them, from sardines to swordfish. You hear the old
adage, 'Don't sweat the small stuff,' but for fisheries, we do have to
care about the little (ones). "
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