In 1999 near the Galapagos Islands, 22-year-old Rob Stewart, an underwater photographer and filmmaker, was driving when he discovered something that changed his life forever. It was a long fishing rig with hundreds of dead sharks hanging on a single line that Stewart said had the potential to reach Earth from space. This fishing line is known by environmentalists as a “curtain of death” (Kielburger). Overfishing is fishing for a species at levels that are too high for the species to reproduce. This can significantly reduce fish populations and push species towards extinction. Fisheries have provided the world with food and jobs that have reshaped Earth's cultures and lifestyles. Fishing is enjoyed by local fishermen, commercial fishing tackle and fishing enthusiasts. However, as industrialization swept the world, fishing became a glaring problem. Various nations around the world have decided to commercialize fisheries altogether, which has caused a number of problems that the world faces today. Fish populations have collapsed and some species have even been wiped off the face of the earth. Competing commercial fishing boats devastate marine ecosystems and push species to the limit. Overfishing is a huge problem in the world that needs to be regulated because it destroys underwater ecosystems, jeopardizes future fish stocks and puts the global food economy at risk. A carefully monitored recovery of the fishing industry can also help support nations around the world. fish populations at significantly low numbers and chances of recovery are slim. “According to European Union data, 80% of Mediterranean fish stocks and 47% of Atlantic fish stocks are overexploited” (Jolly). These percentages show how much you overfishi...... half of the paper ...... library. Network. October 30, 2013. Crockett, Lee. “Protecting Marine Ecosystems by Setting the Right Course for U.S. Oceans.” Oregonian, August 25, 2013. eLibrary. Network. 30 October 2013. "Fisheries reform: it's time to fish online (press release)." AllAfrica, 15 July 2013. eLibrary. Network. 30 October 2013Jolly, David. “European officials move to curb overfishing.” New York Times, May 31. 2013: B3. eLibrary. Network. October 24, 2013. Kielburger, Marc, et al. “The director fights for the oceans; The threat to marine life puts us all at risk, says Crusader.” Edmonton Journal, June 10, 2013: A13. eLibrary. Network. October 30, 2013. Kowalski, M, Kathiann. "Goodbye, Fish?" Odyssey, April 1, 2013: 32. eLibrary. Network. 24 October 2013. “Overfishing”. ThinkQuest Oracle Foundation and eLibrary. Network. October 31, 2013. “Overpopulation and Earth's Dwindling Resources.” World Year of Book Science, 2009. eLibrary. Network. October 30. 2013.