Definitions for "Overfishing"
Catching too many fish; fishing so much that the fish cannot sustain their population. The fish get fewer and fewer, until finally there are none to catch.
The harvest of fish or marinelife at a rate and volume that destroys the ocean's ability to provide such harvest in the future; the unsustainable harvest of fish and marinelife.
According to the National Standard Guidelines, "overfishing occurs whenever a stock or stock complex is subjected to a rate or level of fishing mortality that jeopardizes the capacity of a stock or stock complex to produce MSY on a continuing basis." Overfishing is occurring if the MFMT is exceeded for 1 year or more.
A rate or level of take that the best available scientific information indicates is not sustainable.