Because of its distance from large land masses, Saba Bank is relatively free of the problems that are degrading many Caribbean reef systems, mainly sedimentary run off from poor farming practices or rapid construction, increased nutrient loading from an ever-increasing human population, and overfishing by local fisherman.
Every now and then environmentalists would show up, carrying signs warning about the global decline of shark populations from overfishing and calling for an end to the slaughter.
Seafood Watch, a program of the Monterey Bay Aquarium began about 10 years ago to help raise consumer awareness and promote business practices to protect the ocean's fish populations from overfishing, pollution, and native habitat destruction.
In general, the agency defines a population as "overfished" if it falls below 20percentt of historic levels.
16percentt of U.S. fish populations are overfished, and the number has been growing in recent years.
The dramatic reduction in sturgeon populations due to overfishing, poaching, pollution, and habitat alteration has led to the inevitability of commercial aquaculture as a tool for decreasing pressure on wild fish stocks as well as caviar and meat production (Beamesderfer and Farr 1997; Waldman and Wirgin 1997; Williot et al. 2002; Chebanov et al. 2002).
While toothfish stocks in South America have been ravaged by overfishing, populations in the Australian Antarctic have been deemed stable.
The slow reproductive rate and limited habitat preferences of this species renders its populations vulnerable to overfishing.
A recent meta-analysis by Neubauer et al. (2013) detected that fish populations exposed to moderate levels of overfishing for a comparatively long period of time had increased recovery ability when compared to populations subjected to overfishing for shorter periods of time.
After signs of population disturbance resulting from overfishing, stringent fishery management regulations were put in place for this species, and the population was considered recovered within ten years of implementing a fishery management plan (Rago & Sosebee, 2010).
