overfish

American  

[oh-ver-fish] / ˌoʊ vərˈfɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to fish (an area or a marine organism) excessively, or to exhaust the supply of usable fish in (certain waters).

   Scientists are concerned that commercial fishing fleets may overfish our coastal waters.

   A long history of overfishing parrotfish, which help maintain a healthy balance between living coral and plants, has led to significant reef damage.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to fish so as to deplete the supply of fish in certain waters.

   If the trawlers are going to overfish here, we'll need legislation to restrict their hauls.

Etymology

Origin of overfish

First recorded in 1865–70; over- + fish

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

overfish

Ensconced on the ice, emperor penguins have largely avoided human efforts to hunt them, overfish their prey or encroach on their territory.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2023

Residents say international trawlers overfish and the small Senegalese boats can't compete.

From Reuters ● Aug. 18, 2023

Commercial operations overfish mullet stocks across southern Brazil.

From New York Times ● Jan. 30, 2023

“It got people thinking very negatively about sharks, which just made it so much easier to overfish them.”

From Washington Post ● Dec. 19, 2022

But the increase in fuel prices makes this unaffordable for traditional fishermen like Mr Kini who must also deal with competition from big trawlers that overfish.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2022

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---