As many as a quarter of the world’s fisheries could be in trouble, a report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization says.
The report was released Wednesday and says the number of fish species threatened by overfishing is soaring, and could reach as much as 20 percent of the global catch.
It says overfished fish populations are declining, and fish populations of species like bluegill, common carp and rainbow trout are declining as well.
The report says the threat is particularly severe to small fish, which account for 80 percent of seafood consumed globally.
The U.S. and Canada have the largest fish stocks.
It also says that despite advances in technology and aquaculture, the oceans have yet to catch up to their potential.
“The world will likely continue to rely on fishing for a large proportion of our seafood consumption,” the report says.
It notes that many fish species are vulnerable to overfishment.
The species that can survive the effects of climate change, like swordfish and bluegills, are declining.
The oceans are also losing fish, the report found.
The average global population of swordfish, the world number one species, has declined to around 3,000, from about 20,000 in 2005.
Bluegill and common carp are also declining.