There are plenty of fish in the sea – but not for long, if we continue to fish unsustainably. In recent weeks, Philippine media reported on the shortage of bangus, and rising prices of staple fish like tilapia and galunggong. According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)*, a third of the world’s oceans are overfished. Stocks fished within biologically sustainable levels has decreased from 90 percent to 66.9 percent, with some fish species not having enough population left in the ocean to replenish and reproduce. Over the years, the demand for seafood has drastically increased. Some 3.2 billion people rely on fish for almost 20 percent of their animal protein intake. Some communities, usually in developing countries, depend on fish as a key source of protein and healthy fat. In fact, fish consumption in the world today has exceeded the consumption of meat from all terrestrial animals. The global fish consumption has increased by 3.2 percent in 2017—twice the 1.6 percent increase in 2016.

World's fish by the numbers: How the seas of East Asia play an important role in global fish production. (2018, November 16). The Daily Guardian, pp. 10, 14.