Direct overfishing is the most obvious threat to world fisheries, according to WCMC. In 1995 FAO estimated that some 70% of major fish stocks they assessed were overexploited or in danger of being so – particularly the high value fisheries.

Attempts to control overfishing have been largely unsuccessful. Moreover, some fishing methods, including dredging, trawling, dynamite fishing, have been very disruptive to marine habitats. Excessive bycatches of non-target species have decimated populations of marine mammals.

Over the last decade several international efforts have focused on the issue of large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing.