FIGHT TO FISH FOREVER PROTECTING OUR HOME | C. MCGLASHAN I pretty much grew up on a boat. Dad’s job meant we were out on the water a lot. We’ve been everywhere , from the Blue Mountains and Sydney Harbour, to so far out in the ocean that you can see the land start to hide beneath the horizon. I went from wanting to go fishing, to needing to go fishing. I became obsessed with everything we saw and did. Every day was unique with so many experiences. We caught unusual fish, saw the world's apex predators hunt, witnessed some of the biggest fish the world has to offer first-hand — and yet that passion (or perhaps obsession) never waned. If anything, it still continues to grow. I’m not sure if there is a word for something beyond an obsession, but that’s what I have. Coming into Year 12, most of my time that was typically spent fishing was taken away. Instead, I was sitting in a room for hours looking at a computer aiming to get decent
marks in my next exam. For someone who basically grew up in the outdoors it was like being caged. And so, every time I had the opportunity to get back to the boat or even just go down the river for a fish, it felt like I had come home after a long day’s work. Because that is essentially what my obsession had become — a metaphorical home. Do not fear though, this article isn’t some soppy tale about my ‘home’ or anything like that. Instead, I would like to explore the effect humanity has, and continues to have, on one of the most complex and important systems in the world: the ocean. And be warned — some of it is a bit confronting. We all know that Earth’s surface is 71% water. I’m also sure that we are aware of the crucial role the ocean plays in supporting the environment around us and putting food on the table.
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