Final answer:
In the first few pages of World Without Fish, Mark Kurlansky introduces the idea of fish depletion by discussing the consequences of overfishing on marine ecosystems and human populations. He explains how the collapse of fisheries disrupts marine ecosystems and affects food sources and living costs.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the first few pages of World Without Fish, Mark Kurlansky introduces his idea of fish depletion by highlighting the consequences of overfishing on marine ecosystems and human populations. He explains that fishery extinctions result in a radical restructuring of marine ecosystems, with dominant species becoming minor players. This disruption affects not only humans who lose a food source but also other species in ways that are difficult to predict.
Kurlansky emphasizes that the collapse of fisheries has long-lasting effects on local populations and increases the cost of living, especially for those who cannot afford to replace fish as an inexpensive protein source. He also mentions that larger fish species are being overfished, leading to a shift towards smaller species. Ultimately, the loss of fish from aquatic systems could threaten food sources.