[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?