[cjensen]

This is nonsense. A classic case of mistaking an anecdote for data.

There's lots of year-to-year variation in currents which affect life in the ocean. In turn, the birds which depend on seafood vary tremendously.

For example, two years ago Pelagic Cormorants had tremendous problems with their food source off of Northern California. So the Cormorants moved around seeking food. Santa Clara County, which normally goes years without seeing this species, saw dozens.

If you want to find out if something is actually going on, go talk to the ornithologists who monitor the nesting sites for the seabirds.

[SeanDav]

or it may be the absolute truth - which you are dismissing as anecdotal.

In either case it is worth keeping an open mind, because if it is true, then we are in serious trouble. Sticking your head in the sand and saying "no data, no data" is not useful even if at the end of the day you are correct. When the consequences of being right or wrong (depending on your point of view) are so dire, it is worth investigating further and certainly not dismissing out of hand.

[atlanticus]

I think it more interesting why some people want to believe such nonsense. The price of fish is all the evidence you need. Glass half empty does not begin to describe such a mind set.

[mkingston]

Fishing techniques have improved rapidly over the past few decades. The price of fish is only a measure of supply in as much as we can continue extracting fish. It's no indication of how close we are to running out.

[SeanDav]

The mindset that it is worth keeping an open mind if the consequences are potentially catastrophic - is that the mindset you are having difficulty with?

[migrantgeek]

This article is definitely lacking data but if you want to get the public's ear, you need anecdotes. Few people perk up with a zip full of spreadsheets.

Anecdotes are fine though they should at least be linked to data supporting the argument.

The problem for me is that after reading the article, I still have no idea if the ocean as a whole is losing its ability to sustain human life.

I'm pretty ignorant in this area and unfortunately this article does nothing to increase my knowledge on the subject.