Fishing is the ancient practice of catching fish in the wild. It dates back to at least the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic period, about 40,000 years ago. Today, the commercial fishing industry yields over 80 million tons of fish each year, with over 38 million people employed in the industry globally. Alongside commercial fishing there is also a large global audience with an interest in recreational fishing - in rivers, lakes, ponds and out at sea.