Industrial longline fishing: a war on fish.

• Author: Steiner, Todd

Among the greatest of the threats to our future is the decline of our planet's greatest resource, the oceans. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that 70% of marine fish species are on the brink of collapse due to overfishing. Meanwhile, globally, 44 billion pounds of fish are discarded every year--25% of the entire world catch.

A primary threat to those ocean resources comes from industrial longline fishing, an industry that sets over 5 million baited hooks every day (almost 2-10 billion annually), creating a curtain of death. These lines catch anything that bites or is unfortunate enough to get hooked while swimming in their path.

In addition to the impact this fishing technology has on target fish species, the collateral damage is enormous and includes sea turtles, seabirds, dolphins, whales, sea lions, marlins, and sharks. These marine species, critical to ecosystem dynamics, are viewed as expendable by an industry that seeks to maximize profits without taking into account the tremendous environmental costs of its practices.

The collateral damage does not end here. Humans are victims, too, and include the coastal communities in the developing world whose fishers are finding their local fishing grounds devoid of fish, and, surprisingly, US consumers who are being offered a regular year-round supply of mercury-poisoned fish.

Industrial longlining technology

Technological advances have given humans the ability to harvest fish beyond the capacity of species to sustain themselves, and longlining can be considered a poster child of high tech advances.

Longlining fishing gear consists of a 60-mile main line attached to 2,000 branch lines, each up to 1,200 feet long and which have deadly hooks baited with squid or fish. Utilizing giant winches, these vessels can haul in the more than 500 miles of line deployed each set, laden with hundreds of fish and other marine species.

With a small crew of three to four people, these powerful vessels can remain at sea for months, freezing their massive catches. These vessels have a vast range, and use high tech sonar and communication tools to locate and chase fish around the globe.

High seas (pelagic) longlining primarily targets swordfish and tuna. Recent economic studies show that longlining is often a marginal commercial enterprise at best. On average, Atlantic longliners lose $7,000 a year after all costs are added up, including depreciation on the vessel. Because longline...