Overfishing JUNE 2014 | Page 8

Overfishing also has an impact on the economy and social life because of the amount of people who depend on the fish as a source of protein primarily in developing countries.For example many African and South Asian coastal nations, fish may account for as much as 50 per cent of protein in a typical diet (7).

The decline of fish stocks in coastal waters as the result of overfishing and illegal fishing activities is making this important resource much less accessible for some of the world’s poorest citizens(6). An estimated 200 million people worldwide depend upon the ocean for jobs and for food (3).