Research from Minderoo Foundations Global Fishing Index has found the decline in fish populations is far worse that previously estimated.

Dr Tony Worby, CEO Flourishing Oceans Minderoo Foundation, told Gareth Parker it is not good.

“The findings are not positive at all,” he said.

“We have determined that half the assessed stocks … are over fished, that means the population of those fish stocks are less that 40 per cent of their pre-fishing population and about one in 10 are on the brink of collapse all around the world.

“This means those populations are actually at 10 per cent of their pre-fishing population.

“Once a stock is at the brink of collapse it really needs many many years of no fishing for it to recover.”

Dr Tony Worby said the the report wasn’t against fishing however we need to do it sustainably so fishing lasts for future generations.

“We need to pay attention to the way we are managing fisheries all around the world,” he told Gareth Parker.

“There needs to be much greater focus on sustainability.

“Where fish stocks are well managed, there are more fish to go around.”

Press PLAY for the whole interview

Image: Getty / iStock