Fish and humans

Fish and humans

Throughout history, humans have utilized fish as a food source. Historically and today, most fish protein has come by means of catching wild fish. However, aquaculture, or fish farming, which has been practiced since about 3,500 B.C.E. in China, is becoming increasingly important in many nations. Overall, about one-sixth of the world's protein is estimated to be provided by fish. That proportion is considerably elevated in some developing nations and regions heavily dependent on the sea. In a similar manner, fish have been tied to trade. One of the world’s longest lasting trade histories is the trade of dry cod from the Lofoten area in northern Norway to the southern parts of Europe. This trade in cod has been going on for more than 1000 years.
Fish are also caught for sp ort.Indeed, in many aquatic environments today, including most freshwaters, there are more fish caught for sport than via commercial fisheries.


Catching fish for the purpose of food or sport is known as fishing, while the organized effort by humans to catch fish is called a fishery. Fisheries are a huge global business and provide income for millions of people. The annual yield from all fisheries worldwide is about 100 million tons, with popular species including herring, cod, anchovy, tuna, flounder, and salmon. However, the term fishery is broadly applied, and includes more organisms than just fish, such as mollusks and crustaceans, which are often called "fish" when used as food.
Fish have been recognized as a source of beauty for almost as long as used for food, appearing in cave art, being raised as ornamental fish in ponds, and displayed in aquariums in homes, offices, or public settings. As of 2006, there were an estimated 60 million aquarium enthusiasts worldwide.

Basking shark, the second largest living fish (after the whale shark) is a filter feeder that eats zooplankton.

Because of the popularity of fish for food, sport, and hobby, overfishing is a threat to many species of fish. In the May 15, 2004 issue of the journal Nature, it was reported that all large oceanic fish species worldwide had been so systematically overcaught that fewer than 10 percent of 1950 levels remained. Particularly imperiled were sharks, Atlantic cod, Bluefin tuna, and Pacific sardines.
Some fish pose dangers to humans. Although the sharks may be among the most feared, there are actually few shark species that are known to attack humans. The largest sharks, the whale shark and basking shark, are actually plankton feeders. The International Shark Attack File reports there are only about 10-15 deaths each year worldwide. This compares to about 1,000 deaths annually from crocodiles and 60,000 from snakebites.

On the other hand, Smith and Wheeler (2006) suggest that, in contrast to prior estimates of 200 venomous fishes, 1,200 species of fish should be presumed venomous. Most of these venomous fishes come from off the coast of eastern and southern Africa, Australia, Indonesia, Phillipines, Polynesia, and southern Japan (Grady 2006). About 50,000 people a year suffer from fish stings or envenomations (Grady 2006). Perhaps the most dangerous venomous fish is the stonefish, which can release a venomous toxin from spikes on its back when it is provoked or frightened. This toxin can be fatal to humans if not treated promptly. The pufferfish, often better known by the Japanese name Fugu, poses risks to humans because this species contains a highly toxic poison in the internal organs. Despite this, it is considered a delicacy in Japan. The pufferfish needs to be very specially prepared to be safe for eating. Every year a number of people die from consuming this fish.
Barracudas, sea bass, moray eels, and stingrays are among other fish that pose risks to humans in the aquatic environment.

Fish have a prominent role in in human religious culture, particularly Christianity. The fish is used often as a symbol by Christians to represent Jesus or Christianity. The Greek word for fish (ichthus, spelled Iota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma) is taken as an acrostic, spelling out Jesus and his titles: "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior" (Iesous CHristos THeou Uiou Soter), or similar combinations. The gospels of the New Testament contain many references to fishing, both literal, as when Jesus directed Peter where to cast his nets, and metaphorical, as when Jesus is recorded as stating, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19).

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