ABSTRACT
Fish are an important source of high-quality food, particularly for the poor, for whom small quantities often provide the only protein in a diet based on a staple food such as rice. Fishing is an important source of employment for many coastal people. 1 The commercial value of fish presumably far outstrips the value of any other wild game that humans hunt. (Fishing also represents a considerable recreational value, which is not discussed in detail in this chapter). Finally, the stock of fish is a vital indicator of the state of the environment; fish live in the water that covers most of Earth’s surface and also is the final deposit for a large share of industrial and agricultural pollution.
