The Fishing Industry Is Changing Fish DNA

Biologists are uncovering short-term and long-term genetic changes in fish biology.

By: Claudia Steiner

Outlets: Sentient

Published: November 3, 2026

Words: 1,529

Last Updated: 6 days, 9 hours ago

Commercial fishing has had a profound impact on the diversity and sustainability of fish populations. The fishing industry has removed nearly half of the global biomass of targeted fish since pre-industrial times, scientists believe, and fishery biomass is currently declining in virtually every climate zone on the planet.

But it isn’t just the quantity of fish that suffers at the hands of the $400 billion global industry. Commercial fishing influences the molecular …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.