A new global study shows that human activities, particularly overfishing, have caused significant declines in the growth performance of marine fish over the past century. Researchers analyzed 7,683 growth curves covering 1,479 species and found that commercially valuable fish have experienced the steepest declines.

Managed fisheries saw an average 9% drop in growth performance, which could translate into a 23% reduction in maximum body size or a 45% decline in growth rate. While ocean temperatures have risen steadily, temperature effects on growth were only evident in temperate regions, suggesting that overfishing is the dominant factor shaping fish life histories.

The study highlights how long-term fishing pressures can reshape fish populations, potentially overshadowing climate change impacts, and underscores the importance of sustainable fisheries management to preserve the size, growth, and resilience of marine species.

Read the recently published work in Nature Communications here