The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of all the world’s oceans, covering approximately 20% of the Earth’s surface. The ocean borders many countries and has a long history of both travel and fishing.
The shelves of the Atlantic are home to some of the world’s most abundant fishing resources, particularly in the more northern parts between Canada and Scandinavia. Many commercial fishing companies exclusively fish in the Atlantic, although it is also home to private fishermen as well, although this is generally restricted to coastal areas.
Cod a
nd salmon are some of the most sought after fish by both pleasure-seeking and commercial anglers, with both fish being popular commercially. This has led to a decline in some stocks of the fish, with farms having to pick up some of the slack, most notably with salmon.
The history of fishing in the Atlantic dates back to prehistoric times, with some of the earliest records of Atlantic fishing dating back to the Roman era. The Atlantic serves as an essential source of food for large parts of Europe as well as the Americas, although the numbers of fish caught have declined in recent years, particularly with cod.
