Fish stocks may be extinct in 50 years

The World Wildlife Fund's report entitled South African Fisheries: The real facts and trends says that 48,1% of shallow-water hake, yellowtail, oysters, sardines, squids and prawns have been optimally exploited.

It says that a further 14,8% of fish, including commercial species such as deep-water hake, west coast rock lobster, Indian Ocean yellow-fin and southern Blue-fin tuna are all over-exploited.

The WWF says that almost 70% of the local commercial species have collapsed, indicating that their numbers are less that 10% of the pre-fishing population and 29,6% of the stock status of other species was unknown.

for more:

• Business Report: Commercial fishing faces bleak future

• WWF: South African Fisheries: The real facts and trends