Fishing kills fish at an unsustainable level

Arguments

1. 70% of target marine fish species are fished unsustainably. Commercial fishing has wiped out 90% of the world's large fish populations, according to scientists
2. Deep sea species are now being targeted. Deep sea fishes live longer, grow slower, and have longer time period before becoming mature. Fishing of juveniles quickly depletes the species.
3. Popular activity in Australia, estimated to be has high as 5 million people by the Normal review. It affects significant numbers of fish.

Objections

Nil

References for the Arguments

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1871634.stm

1993 Australian Fisheries Resources, Bureau of Resource Services and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-05-14-fish_x.htm

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0712FF345B0C7A8EDDAE0894DB404482

Examples and Anecdotes

1. Orange roughies are trawled because they gather around sea mounts. Fishing begain the 1980s, and the population levels are already down 80%. The species does not breed until they are 40 years old.
2. 490 Tonnes of all species are taken in Port Philip Bay by recreational fishers, compared to 482 Tonnes of pilchard / sprat by commercial fishing