fall in fish stocks
We all know and hear about “The good old days” when double figure fish were common place and you would catch 10 Bass from the shore on an average day.
Well to help get your head around it a little here are a few figures on how fish stocks have fallen over the last 150+ years. This needs to slow down in my opinion or there will be nothing left in our seas soon.
Decline in Fish Stocks
- Cod stocks fallen by 98%
- Haddock stocks fallen by 90%
- Plaice stocks fallen by 90%
- Whiting stocks fallen by 70%
- Halibut stocks fallen by 98%
- Turbot stocks fallen by 95 %
Those figures are frightening. Surely we need to take action and preserve best we can with the minimal stocks are left in our seas. I have heard of small no fishing areas. I think there is one around Lundy Isle, which has seen significant increases in Crab and Lobster numbers, as well as smaller fish numbers increasing.
What do you think???
image: ezioman
Hi, I fish from my kayak in the Tamar estuary, catch a lot of bass which are all returned, the waters are a lot cleaner now compared to just 5 yrs ago.
Also have been catching mackerel & bream from the same area, not that common 5 yrs ago.
I have noticed a huge rise in Bream catch reports. They were a red letter day fish only 6 - 7 years ago, now almost common place.
I used to get great results bass fishing in the Fal on my Yak. great on fly!!!
I agree, but must admit to catching a lot more bass now than i did 20 years ago, either ive improved or their are more around !!
Interesting. Where abouts do you fish to see this increase in Bass numbers…..?