In a March 2009 report entitled, Hungry Oceans, Oceana continually focuses on the number of international fisheries that are described as being "fully exploited," in order to strike fear that international fisheries are on the brink of absolute collapse. "Eighty percent of all marine fish stocks are currently fully exploited, overexploited, depleted, or recovering from depletion; including stocks of the 7 largest prey fisheries. Very few marine fish populations remain with the potential to sustain production increases, and more have now reached their limit than ever before."
Oceana fails to explain the terminology around tuna stocks, leaving readers with a misimpression about the true state of sustainability. Fish stocks that are "moderately" or "fully exploited" are not being fished to extincition. Yet Oceana portrays these levels as breaking points. These fish are being fished at a rate they can be replenished. In fact "fully exploited" is a term that accurately reflects the goal of well-managed fisheries. An under exploited or moderately exploited stock can be a wasteful use of resource, while overexploited or depleted stocks can cause concerns about the future. "Fully" hits the sweet spot where sustainability and semantics converge.
