What is an impact of overfishing on marine organisms?

Overfishing significantly reduces fish stocks, which is a serious impact on marine organisms. When fish populations are harvested at rates faster than they can reproduce, the overall number of fish in the ecosystem declines. This reduction not only affects the targeted fish species but also disrupts the entire food web.

Many marine species rely on fish as a primary food source, and as fish stocks decrease, the abundance and diversity of those species decline as well. Furthermore, lower fish populations can lead to an imbalance in the ecosystem, where certain species may thrive due to the absence of competitors, while others may struggle or face extinction. This cascading effect can lead to long-term ecological changes in marine environments, highlighting the critical importance of sustainable fishing practices to maintain healthy ocean ecosystems.