Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services – Impact on  Fish and  Fisheries

Rashmi Tripathi

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.67301

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services – Impact on Fish and Fisheries

Author(s)	Dr. Rashmi Tripathi
Country	India
Abstract	Fish and fisheries play a dual role in human society as a crucial food source and a driver of biodiversity change in aquatic ecosystems. This paper reviews the global state of fish fisheries and their multifaceted impacts on biodiversity. Wild fish captures have plateaued in recent decades while aquaculture has expanded rapidly to meet rising demand, now contributing roughly half of the world’s fish supply. Unsustainable fishing practices, including overfishing and destructive gear use, have led to widespread declines in fish populations and degradation of marine habitats. Approximately one-third of assessed fish stocks are overexploited beyond biological sustainability, and intensive fishing pressure has driven severe reductions in the abundance of large predator species . The collateral impacts of fisheries—such as bycatch of non-target species and physical damage to seabed habitats—further erode aquatic biodiversity. Aquaculture, while alleviating some pressure on wild stocks, introduces its own environmental challenges including habitat conversion, pollution, and genetic and disease interactions with wild species. Many marine species, from commercially important fish to sharks, sea turtles, and marine mammals, are now endangered primarily due to fishing activities. We discuss how improved management, conservation policies, and the inclusion of indigenous knowledge are helping to counter these trends. Effective measures—such as sustainable catch limits, habitat protection, bycatch mitigation, and community-led stewardship—are essential to balance fisheries with the preservation of biodiversity. Strengthening these efforts globally will be critical to maintaining healthy, resilient aquatic ecosystems and the essential services they provide to humanity.
Keywords	Keywords: Overfishing, Aquaculture, Biodiversity, Ecosystem services, Conservation, Endangered species, Fisheries management, Indigenous knowledge
Field	Biology > Zoology
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On	2026-01-27
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.67301

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Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services – Impact on Fish and Fisheries

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