Though I haven't given it a thought lately, I suppose we in the US have long ago reached the 'Peak Fish' period, particularly as it relates to open salt water fishing (as opposed to fish farming).

As a kid growing up in the 1950s, we used to have fish almost every Friday. Fish was considered a cheap food, and a guest did not feel particularly complimented if he was served fish by his host. Today many types of seafood are considered delicacies, particularly such things as shrimp and lobster.  I read that during the turn-of-the-century lobsters were so plentiful along much of the New England coast that they were  commonly used as bait by striped bass fishermen!

The family fisherman has already gone the way of the family farmer.  And as fish get more scarce, fishermen will have to put more miles on their boats to get an equivalent amount of fish, and with fuel prices rising, the fisherman gets hit with a double-whammy. The time is soon coming when all of our fish will come from fish farms.

I'm just starting to read more about "peak fish."  I was surprised to see a History Channel show last night, coinciding with my first fish post.

I thought it was  pretty cautious.  It was obstensively a "modern marvels" show about factory ships, but repeatedly noted that efficeincy was what killed other fisheries.

The show was just called "commercial fishing."

(on PO, I think "the Oil Drum Concensus" is pretty rational.  I'm finally reading  "Beyond Oil" and finding it pretty consistent with what I've learned here and elsewhere on the web.  As cornucopians dwindle, we'll get a chance to see exactly how responsive the world will be ... how fast we regear or downshift)