• trxxruraxvr@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    no one can agree why

    I think most people can agree it’s a combination of pollution, overfishing and climate change. Probably just unclear which one of those factors in the most.

    • enkers@sh.itjust.works
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      6 months ago

      Crazy idea, but what about fishing-driven evolutionary pressure. If all the biggest fish are getting caught and killed, won’t that give smaller fish an evolutionary advantage?

      • trxxruraxvr@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Very possible, but with all things happening it’s pretty hard to be sure it’s that and not fish growing less because they’re being poisoned by microplastics.

      • shalafi@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Nailed it. Exactly the answer I read in an article way back when. Commented on it above.

        Remove the big fish, only the smaller ones that came to maturity faster get to reproduce.

      • macniel@feddit.de
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        6 months ago

        Given nature’s survival of the fittest, you miiight be onto something.

        • john89@lemmy.ca
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          6 months ago

          He’s not. It’s the big fish that avoid getting caught.

      • john89@lemmy.ca
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        6 months ago

        If all the biggest fish are getting caught and killed, won’t that give smaller fish an evolutionary advantage?

        Fishing is a little bit different than that. It’s the big fish who are able to avoid getting caught, which is how they get to live to be so big.

        • enkers@sh.itjust.works
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          6 months ago

          Maybe if we’re talking line fishing, but I’m pretty sure most commercial fishing is done with trawling nets, where everything above a certain size is caught.