The future of fishing and fish — and the health of the ocean — hinges on economics and the idea of 'infinity fish'

Fish stocks are in decline around the world, in part because of the way we value nature and fail to account for their long-term benefits. (Shutterstock)

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series that also includes live interviews with some of Canada’s top social sciences and humanities academics. Click here to register for this free event, on May 25, at 1 p.m. EDT, co-sponsored by The Conversation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Indigenous Elders recently shared their dismay about the unprecedented decline in salmon populations in British Columbia’s three largest salmon-producing rivers. Research produced by my team found that the Coho salmon catch off the southern B.C. coast has declined to only about five per cent of the peak catch, which dates back to the early 1900s.