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overfishing

overfishing

8 3.2
Catching too many fish so their numbers fall
  • noun
  • /ˌoʊvərˈfɪʃɪŋ/
translation icon : sobrepesca
  • Where management is weak or nonexistent, the economic factors underlying overfishing in commercial fisheries have been generally understood since the 1950s.
  • prevent overfishing
  • vulnerability to overfishing
  • effects of overfishing

It's been discontinued, no longer making it because of overfishing.

Examples

  • The government has indeed had to impose restrictions on some sectors; for instance, to prevent overfishing.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The act of overfishing has led to a significant decline in the population of many fish species.

  • Find out more about the serious threat of overfishing and what we can do to prevent it with this video.

  • First, increasing population and improved fishing technology led to overfishing in the absence of effective management and regulations.

    Academic text (1993)
  • No clear evidence indicates that overfishing has had a negative impact in Hawaii or elsewhere in the Pacific.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The consequences of overfishing and unselective fishing are numerous.

    Academic text (2017)
  • In addition, as fish populations decline from overfishing, benefits to future fishermen and consumers may be lost or reduced.

    Academic text (1993)
  • There have been significant losses of natural reefs, even in the past few decades, primarily from overfishing and habitat destruction.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Coral reefs are in danger because of overfishing, fertilizer, and other wastes.

    Blog text (1)
  • The government is implementing new regulations to combat overfishing in local waters.

Surface Forms

overfishing singular
overfishings plural

Morphology

overfishing = overfish (transparent) = over + fish + ing

The verb 'overfish' is clearly transformed into a noun indicating the act of doing so.

Etymology

Overfishing is made of the prefix over- meaning 'too much', the same over- in overcook and overwork, plus fish and -ing meaning 'catching fish'. So overfishing means taking 'too many' fish from the sea, which is why fish numbers go down.