FISHING

Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish by hooking, trapping or gathering them. The term fishing is applied to pursuing all other aquatic animals such as different types of marine animals and invertebrates, shellfish, squid, octopus, turtles and frogs.

The term fishing is not usually applied to the pursuing of aquatic mammals such as whales, where the term "whaling" is more appropriate, or to commercial fish farming.

Fishing is an ancient and worldwide practice with various forms, techniques and traditions and has been transformed by modern technological developments. In addition to providing food through harvesting of fish, modern fishing is both a recreational and a professional sport. The total number of fishermen and fish-farmers world-wide is estimated to be about 38 million.

The fishing and fisheries industry provides direct and indirect employment to an estimated 200 million people worldwide.

The average person on Earth consumes about 14 kilograms of fish a year. This obviously varies greatly from area to area.

Fishing is one of the most popular recreational sports, and comes in many forms including deep-sea fishing, surf fishing, fly fishing, species fishing with bait and lure, and more recently dropshot fishing.

FISHING HISTORY

Fishing is a very ancient practice that dates back at least to the Paleolithic period which began about 40,000 years ago. Archaeological features such as shell middens, discarded fish bones and cave paintings show that sea foods have been very important for survival and have been consumed in significant quantities.

During the Paleolithic period, most people lived a hunter-gather lifestyle and were of necessity, constantly on the move. However, there are early examples of permanent settlements, though not necessarily permanently occupied, such as those at Lepenski. These settlements are almost always associated with fishing as a major source of food.

The Neolithic culture and technology spread worldwide between 4,000 and 8,000 years ago. With the new technologies of farming and pottery came basic forms of all the main fishing methods that are still used today.

The ancient river Nile was full of fish, and was used extensively for fishing. Fresh and dried fish were a staple food for much of the population. The Egyptians invented various implements and methods for fishing and these are clearly illustrated in tomb scenes, drawings, and papyrus documents. Some representations hint at fishing being pursued as a pastime, even in the Eqyptian times.

In India, the Pandyas, a classical Dravidian Tamil kingdom, were known for the pearl fishery as early as the 1st century BC. Their seaport Tuticorin was known for deep sea pearl fishing. The paravas, a Tamil caste centred in Tuticorin, developed a rich community because of their pearl trade, navigation knowledge and fishing industries.

Fishing scenes are very rarely represented in ancient Greek culture, a reflection of the low social status of fishing in the communities. However, Oppian of Corycus, a Greek author wrote a major treatise on sea fishing, the Halieulica, composed between 177 and 180. This is the earliest such work on fishing to have survived intact to the modern day.
 
In traditional Chinese history, history begins with three semi-mystical and legendary individuals who taught the Chinese the arts of civilization around 2800-2600 BC: of these Fu Hsi was reputed to be the inventor of writing, hunting, trapping, and fishing.

One of the world’s longest lasting trade histories is the fishing and trade of dry cod from the Lofoten area to the southern parts of Europe, Italy, Spain and Portugal. The trade in cod started during the Viking period or before, has been going on for more than 1000 years and is still an important business.