What's Happening to our Oceans and Sea Life

Overfishing has changed our oceans beyond recognition. Already 90% of our big fish are gone - the swordfish, sharks and tuna - devoured by the world's unsustainable and escalating demand for seafood. And it's not just our fish stocks that are in trouble - tens of thousands of threatened species including turtles, sea lions, dolphins and sea birds are caught up in fishing gear each year. We urgently need your support to tackle overfishing and change the way Australians buy seafood. Our choices matter, and can help restore the balance for our fragile marine life.

80% of the world's fisheries are overfished, depleted or fished right up to their limit.

Scientists have predicted the world's fisheries could collapse by 2048.

Each year a staggering 50,000 leatherback and 200,000 loggerhead turtles are caught in the world's longline fisheries. Both species are at risk of extinction.

Globally 'bycatch' (unwanted or unintended catch) amounts to a hugely wasteful 20 million tonnes a year, or a quarter of the world's annual catch.

Over 70 million sharks are killed each year for their fins.

Some of the world's largest fisheries aren't destined for our plates. Each year we feed 14 million tonnes of wild-caught fish to pigs and chickens around the globe. That amounts to 17% of all the wild fish we catch.

Source: http://www.marineconservation.org.au/

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