The World Day for the End of Fishing and Fish Farming (WoDEF) was observed on March 29, 2025, to raise awareness about the suffering of billions of aquatic animals due to the fishing and aquaculture industries. These industries, originally intended as sustainable food sources, have caused severe environmental destruction and inhumane treatment of marine life.
Each year, trillions of wild fish and billions of farmed fish are killed, often through painful methods such as suffocation and live dissection. Overfishing has depleted global fish stocks, with 64% overexploited and 23% fully exploited, threatening marine ecosystems. The fishing industry is also a major polluter, contributing nearly half of the waste in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch through abandoned nets, which harm marine animals. Fish farming further pollutes waters and destroys habitats like mangrove forests.
In Indonesia, organizations such as Animal Friends Jogja (AFJ) and WALHI East Java used WoDEF to highlight the harmful impact of fishing. Experts warned of declining fish populations, coral reef destruction, and the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Advocates called for government action to regulate the industry and prevent further ecological crises.
WoDEF 2025 served as a crucial reminder of humanity’s responsibility toward aquatic animals and the need for immediate change to protect marine ecosystems.