Commercial fishing

Commercial fishing, the taking of fish and other seafood and resources from oceans, rivers, and lakes for the purpose of marketing them. In the early 21st century about 250 million people were directly employed by the commercial fishing industry, and an estimated one billion people depended on fish as their primary source of animal protein.

Fishing is one of the oldest employments of humankind. Ancient heaps of discarded mollusk shells, some from prehistoric times, have been found in coastal areas throughout the world, including those of China, Japan, Peru, Brazil, Portugal, and Denmark. These mounds, known as kitchen middens indicate that marine mollusks were among the early foods of humans.

Archaeological evidence shows that humans next learned to catch fish in traps and nets. These ventures were limited at first to the lakes and rivers, but as boats and fishing devices were improved, humans ventured into sheltered coastal areas and river mouths and eventually farther out onto the continental shelves, the relatively shallow ocean plains between the land and the deeper ocean areas. In some shelf areas where seaweed was abundant, this was also incorporated into the diet.

Fishing technology continued to develop throughout history, employing improved and larger ships, more sophisticated fishing equipment, and various food preservation methods. Commercial fishing is now carried on in all types of waters, in all parts of the world, except where impeded by depth or dangerous currents or prohibited by law. Commercial fishing can be done in a simple manner with small vessels, little technical equipment, and little or no mechanization as in small local, traditional, or artisanal fisheries. It can also be done on a large scale with powerful deep-sea vessels and sophisticated mechanical equipment similar to that of other modern industrial enterprises.

History Of Commercial Fishing

Food-gathering peoples first obtained fish and shellfish from the shallow water of lakes and along the seashore, from small ponds remaining in inundation areas, from tidal areas, and from small streams. Some authorities believe that in the earliest times fish were rarely caught because of the inadequacy of fishing gear. Shellfish, however, can be gathered easily by hand, and the prehistoric kitchen middens indicate their importance as a food source.

In earliest times most foodstuffs were used at once and not stored, but as expanding populations increased food needs, techniques were developed for preserving fish by drying, smoking, salting, and fermentation. It became desirable to catch large quantities, and specialized equipment was devised. Individual fishing was replaced by collective efforts involving larger, more effective gear.

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Anna D Parker

Journal Manager

Journal of Fisheries Research

Email: fisheriesres@emedscholar.com