Recruitment Overfishing

Recruitment overfishing occurs when too many adult fish are caught, reducing the number of mature fish that can reproduce. This leads to a decline in the fish population over time because there aren’t enough young fish to replace those lost. Essentially, it’s like catching most of the adults before they can spawn, preventing new fish from entering the population. This practice can threaten the sustainability of fish stocks, risking long-term depletion of fish communities if not managed properly. It highlights the importance of sustainable fishing practices that preserve reproductive adults to maintain healthy, productive ecosystems.