A large part of the problem is that we are Apex predators. In a healthy environment the higher you are on the food chain the fewer of you there are. Other than some of the smaller prey animals (and our domestic animals) we are pretty much the biggest species on the planet in terms of population. We're certainly the most prolific of the apex predators.
Let's look at it through simple science and sharks. X is the fish population, Y is the number of lesser shark species, and Z represents the apex shark. You need Y to control X, otherwise there will be too many of X for the local plant life/krill to support. You need Z to control Y, otherwise Y will eat all of X and throw the ecosystem out of balance. But if you have too many of Z, Z will eat too many of Y, meaning there is nothing to control X. Or, even worse, Z will eat Y and X until Y and X cannot sustain healthy populations. This will then cause the die off of Z because they've eaten all their prey and can no longer sustain their population.
A good starting point for us as a species would be to ease ourselves off of so much meat. Yes, we need protein, and I love my cheeseburgers more than I should, but it takes more resources to grow animals than it does plants. And does anyone know what forms of meat are more sustainable? We're over fishing and commercial fisheries tend to be bad news for the environment. Red meat tends to be the biggest and takes the most resources to go from infant to ready to harvest adult. Is there an environmentally friendly way to raise poultry?
