A Greenpeace diver frees a sunfish from a fishing net
Although oceans cover more than two-thirds of the planet's surface, it is clear that our oceans are limitless no more. For too long access to marine life has been largely open for use by anyone possessing the means to exploit it.
Rapid advances in technology have meant that the ability, reach and power of vessels and equipment used to exploit marine life now far outweigh nature's ability to maintain it. If left unchecked, this will have tragic consequences.
Whales, dolphins, porpoises and other cetaceans face many threats from human activities. Climate change, ozone depletion, toxic pollution, noise pollution and overfishing have left the oceans in a crisis which threatens the future of whales and the entire marine ecosystem.
Overfishing is the biggest single threat to marine ecology today.
Fishing fleets are now exceeding the oceans' limits. Some species have already been fished to commercial extinction.
The damaging impacts of overfishing do not stop at the 'targeted' fish species, or at those species caught 'incidentally' in fishing gear such as marine mammals or seabirds. Overfishing is increasingly affecting the marine ecosystems in which species are embedded. Scientists are warning that this will result in profound changes in our oceans, perhaps changing them forever.
Modern fishing is dominated by industrialised vessels that use state-of-the-art fish finding sonar devices to pinpoint schools of fish quickly and accurately. The ships also have fish processing and packing plants, huge freezing systems, fishmeal processing plants, and powerful engines to drag enormous fishing gear through the ocean. Put simply: the fish don't stand a chance.
Almost everywhere, regulation of fishing vessels is woefully inadequate.
Greenpeace is campaigning to protect the oceans. We aim to limit or reverse the threats already imposed by humankind - including toxic pollution, noise pollution and overfishing - and ensure a safe future for marine ecosystems.
Visit our new oceans website.
