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Fishery

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A fishery is a way people harvest or raise life from the water.

Becharof Wilderness Salmon
Becharof Wilderness Salmon

It can mean catching wild fish in the ocean or lakes. It can also mean raising fish in a controlled way called aquaculture. People use different methods to do this work. They might use many types of boats or special gear. Some people fish for fun, which is called recreational fishing. Others fish to feed their families, known as subsistence fishing. These activities are very important to many people around the world.

Faina de Pesca,Sesimbra
Faina de Pesca,Sesimbra

There are different ways that fisheries work. Most fishing happens in the salty ocean. About 90 percent of all catches come from these waters. Many fishers stay near the coast because it is easier. The shallow water near the coast has many nutrients. These nutrients help lots of fish live there. Some fishing happens in freshwater, like lakes or rivers. This makes up about 10 percent of the total catch.

Global capture fisheries and aquaculture production, 1990-2030
Global capture fisheries and aquaculture production, 1990-2030

You can also farm fish in tanks or ponds. This is a growing way to provide food.

Fisheries have changed a lot over time. In the past, people used a "first-come, first-served" approach. This meant anyone could fish wherever they wanted. Today, we use many rules to manage the water. Countries use local laws and international treaties to help. These rules help prevent fights between different fishers. They also help make sure we do not take too many fish. Managing fisheries well helps keep the economy strong and healthy. This helps protect the jobs of many people.

There are many important numbers to know about fisheries. In 2016, the world produced 171 million tonnes of fish. About 500 million people depend on fisheries for their livelihoods. In 2022, small-scale fisheries provided 40 percent of the global catch. This work supports 90 percent of the capture fisheries workforce. Women make up 40 percent of those small-scale workers. In 2022, 77 percent of this global workforce lived in Asia.

Fisheriesexploited
Fisheriesexploited

These numbers show how much we rely on the water.

Fisheries are linked to many things in our daily lives. They provide food for billions of people every day. In 2016, people ate about 20.3 kg of fish each. This is much higher than it used to be. However, we face hard jobs like overfishing and pollution. Overfishing happens when we take fish faster than they can grow. Climate change also changes how the ocean works. We try to follow goals like "Life Below Water" to help. These goals help protect coastal homes for fish and people.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Becharof Wilderness Salmon.jpg
Becharof Wilderness Salmon.jpg
File:Fisheriesexploited.jpg
Fisheriesexploited.jpg
File:Faina de Pesca,Sesimbra.jpg
Faina de Pesca,Sesimbra.jpg
File:Global capture fisheries and aquaculture production, 1990-2030.svg
Global capture fisheries and aquaculture...
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