Arguments About Overfishing

1892 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The negative effects of overfishing

Overfishing is Killing Our Fish
Overfishing has become a huge problem for today’s oceans. A total of almost 80% of the world's fisheries are fully- to over-exploited, depleted, or in a state of collapse. Overfishing is exactly what it seems like it would be. The act of “fishing too much” is when fishermen are catching fish so fast and with a high occurrence that the fish are not able to reproduce quickly enough to regrow the population in the respective bodies of water. This problem has gotten progressively worse as we humans are now relying on fish as a food resource even more then the past and the equipment and techniques used by the fishermen have made it easier and more efficiently for more fish than ever to be caught. Even though overfishing …show more content…

The first thing that needs to happen is to inform the public, including consumers and fishermen, of the problems and what can be done to make a change. Give the public the information found from research and identify the long-term effects that overfishing will have. Conduct interviews with both environmentalists and experts on the issue as well as fishermen, in order to present both sides of the argument. Attend local city council meetings to introduce the idea and the importance of a presentation as well as schedule a time for one to be made. Present information on what overfishing is, the impact that overfishing has on the marine ecosystem and on our existence, make consumers more aware of the type and amount of fish that they eat, and actions that can be taken to reverse the problem. This would all need to occur within a half year period, so things can start getting started on preventing overfishing, like putting a local restriction on catch limits. This would be determined by statistics when scientists assess and determine the total number of fish that could be caught without a negative impact. And those levels should be constantly monitored and adjusted to accommodate changes. Another thing that must occur is reducing the level of bycatching. This will be done by having rules and techniques, in order to reduce or prevent the killing of any species that are not part of the target

Show More
Related

  • Essay On Canada's Fishing Industry

    1832 Words  | 4 Pages

    Overfishing is defined as a form of overexploitation where fish stocks are brought down to unacceptable levels. In the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s 2 yearly report (SOFIA), it states how over half of the fish stocks, worldwide, are fully exploited. Other research has shown it only takes 10-15 years of industrial fishing to obliterate a tenth of the intended species. Overfishing causes a ripple effect that hurts the entire ecosystem. The balance of the chain depends largely on the interaction between the predator and the prey.

    Read More

  • Taking a Look at Overfishing

    590 Words  | 2 Pages

    Overfishing is a major problem in economy today. The practices of fishing too much or too often result in a decrease of the fish population. Constant removal of fish from the oceans (fishing) accounts for both adult and baby fish. With the consistent decrease in adult fish, mating becomes more difficult or even impossible, resulting in an overall lack of fish in the oceans. Pepijn Koster defines overfishing as, "Overfishing can be defined in a number of ways. However, everything comes down to one simple point: Catching too much fish for the system to support leads to an overall degradation to the system. Overfishing is a non-sustainable use of the oceans." (par.1). When fish stocks cannot be replenished faster than they are being depleted, a reduction in fish population occurs, which is what is referred to as overfishing.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Commercial Fishing

    1991 Words  | 4 Pages

    Overfishing may have some benefits to it, but does it out way the negatives? By fulfilling our demand we can wipe out our whole oceans! Not just the fish, but water mammals too. Sure it can create jobs, but as what cost? It can help bring up our economy, but at the same time it can bring it down with many fish companies closing down due to lack of profit. Fish is a great source of nutrients, but too much can kill you! In other words, fish can be both beneficial and harmful to not only humans, but everyone and everything surrounding fish. There are three things people can do to help with overfishing, the first thing is to be aware of what you are eating. Is the fish on the fear of extinction list? Also asking yourself is the fish you’re about to eat really the fish you intend to eat? Another thing to ask is, was it shipped over seas? If it was it doesn’t benefit anyone, it won’t help the economy or you. Many fish shipped from a long ways creates pollution and may have lost its nutrients value from the long voyage. One last thing to do is if you see a sewer with a sign leading to the ocean, try not to leave trash near it, or better yet don’t litter at all! All the litter left out on streets or near sewers can cause pollution in oceans, lakes, and rivers which is very harmful for marine life. You can still enjoy fish, but not at such a high demand as

    Read More

  • Stop Whaling Persuasive Essay

    705 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everybody has one thing in the world that they feel strongly about. Weather if it is a stuffed animal, person, or a job. We all praise something. I believe that we need to stop whaling. Every day whale after whale die. Why? Just because people want their meat and to make oil and some money. We need to find a way to stop these terrible Pandemic. There has to be another way to make money and oil than killing this marvelous animal. If this was happening to you what would you want to do to stop this?

    Read More

  • Where Does the Responsability of Consreving Ocean Life Lies

    694 Words  | 2 Pages

    Countries, fisheries, and consumers all need to share the responsibility for conserving endangered marine life. First, governments should base their policies on scientific factors and should look for better economic incentives to stop fisheries from overfishing. Second, fisheries should use methods that are not so destructive to the fish population. Finally, consumers should avoid buying endangered seafood, even if they have to pay a little more. If these parties recognize that it is worthwhile to conserve marine species, then they must accept this responsibility.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Overfishing

    794 Words  | 2 Pages

    Overcapacity of vessels in the water is one main reason for overfishing. It is said that there are enough vessels in the water to fish 4 planet earths—crazy, right?. There is so many powerful boats out there with intense competition for limited fish. Technological advances such as sonar detection leaving the fish no hope for escape. These vessels have become so efficient that they have

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Blackfish

    393 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the documentary Blackfish, the director and writer Garbriela Cowperthwaite (2013) tackles the topic of animal captivity. Within the film Cowperthwaite specifically examines the captivity of orcas at Seaworld. Cowperthwaite's film argues against Seaworld's procedures regarding orcas. Garbriela Cowperthwaite effectively persuades the audience by providing video evidence and including varying interviews.

    Read More

  • Animal Agriculture Essay

    1182 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many impacts that fishing and land animal farming have on the ocean, which are detrimental to ocean ecosystems as well as many other aspects of the environment. Overfishing, killing fish at a much quicker rate than the fish can repopulate, is one major problem. Three-fourths of the world’s fisheries are either fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted (Cowspiracy). Researchers have estimated an end of all viable fisheries by 2018 if the current trends of fishing continue (Mason). According to the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch, hundreds of thousands of animals die every year as bycatch, with one of the worst offenders being shrimp fisheries, catching up to six pounds of bycatch per pound of shrimp. Endangered species are also caught, including predators which are important in keeping the balance in ocean ecosystems (Smith). While many organizations such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch recommend consumers to eat more “sustainable” fish, this will not stop the massive environmental impacts. Sustainable fishing for one does not account for the natural flux in the population of species of fish; what is considered a sustainable amount of fish to harvest one year may deplete the fishery in another year (Smith). Sustainable fish also are becoming even less sustainable as companies that label sustainable fish must find more For example, after Wal-Mart pledged to selling Marine Stewardship

    Read More

  • The Ripple Effects Of Shark Overfishing

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    However, shark finning does not just endanger the different shark populations. Known as the ripple effect, the overfishing of sharks puts the entire ocean ecosystem at risk (Fairclough). Sharks, the top predators of the ocean, keep the marine ecosystems under control, so when their numbers are imbalanced, the entire ocean is as well. As stated by shark activist, and author of Jaws, Peter Benchley in an interview, “Without sharks, you take away the apex predator of the ocean, and you destroy the entire food chain” (Fleshler). Without sharks to regulate the populations lower on the food chain, species usually kept under control by sharks can run rampant. Without sharks, the sudden increase in the prey populations can then also take a

    Read More

  • The Effects of Overfishing on the Restaurant Industry

    1580 Words  | 4 Pages

    To fish or not to fish is a personal choice. The fact that the oceans are being overfished is a growing concern for individuals, organizations, and governments throughout the world. In this paper I want to discuss the effects of overfishing on the restaurant industry, and possible solutions to solve the problem. Fishing is an ongoing source of food for people around the world. In many countries it is a food staple in their everyday diet. In more modern societies eating fish has become a sensual experience, and not just for the wealthy. It hasn't been until population explosions in the last century that the demand for seafood has led to more effective fishing techniques and technologies. Now the demand for popular fish like the salmon, tuna, sea bass, cod and hoki, which is the key fish in McDonalds filet o' fish, is diving wild populations to dangerously low levels. The methods used to catch the amount of fish demanded by the industry do not leave sustainable populations in the wild. In an attempt to preserve the fish population, governments have set limits on the minimum size that may be harvested and how many of each may be taken. Boundaries have been set up saying which areas can be fished and which ones should be left alone. A number of smaller fisheries have gone out of business because of the limits imposed by the government. This leads to even less fish being harvested and brought to market. Therefore the amount and varieties of fish at markets are smaller and can cause shortages for wholesalers and restaurants. Some restaurants will no longer have the variety on their menus that they used to enjoy. If a restaurant thrives on its seafood menu they may be unable to cope with the shortages and will go out of business. In the ...

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Overfishing

    1623 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Overfishing occurs when more fish are caught than the population can replace through natural reproduction”. CITATION

    Read More

  • Oceans in Crisis

    1833 Words  | 4 Pages

    Overfishing is the most major problem related to oceans, but it is also the most overlooked. Fishing has been going on for thousands of years, and fish have always been seen as a renewable resource, that would replenish itself forever for our benefit. But around the world there is evidence that fish are not recove...

    Read More

  • Why Whaling Is Wrong

    577 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are many reasons why whaling is hazardous to the ocean’s ecosystem. The idea of killing mammals for profit has the same consequences as trophy hunting for animals in Africa. It portrays a negative example for humans . In addition, shipping the meat to other countries for greedy companies is disgraceful. Many popular scientific websites such as National Geographic say that “ they are slaughtered for commercial gain.” However, scientific evidence has already proved that is still not profitable. According to a recent national article, one man named Kristjan Loftson does it purely out of tradition for a big propaganda agenda ( National Geographic, 01,16, page ). People claim this is done for science. However, after another global ban, experts are saying it is done purely for money and cruelty. According to a major campaigner, “the International Fund for Animal Welfare” went as far as doing DNA tests to see what was responsible for recent whale beachings. Due to these facts, Japan’s own Ministry of Agriculture is stepping up. They have plans to file proposals for recent research along with the government ( IFAW, n.d. Parah 5). Have the facts finally persuaded like Japan and Iceland to cut back?

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Overfishing

    1311 Words  | 3 Pages

    By 1989, when about 90 million metric tons of catch were taken from the ocean, the fish industry had hit its high-water mark causing yields to decline or stagnate ever since then. The United Nations Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 25 percent of all fish trapped in nets are bycatch, which includes any fish or animal that is unusable or not licensed for fishing by the vessel (Moran). Modern ships today use technologically advanced, fish-finding sonar that can find a school of fish with almost military precision. Due to all this heavy fishing it can change the characteristics of a population by selecting for or against a certain trait. Overfishing is not only a crime but one of the contributing factors to the decline of animal population in the oceans and in increase in human greed.

    Read More

  • Marine Life Extinction Essay

    1941 Words  | 4 Pages

    Did you know that more than 90 percent of all organisms that have ever lived on Earth are extinct? According to Pandey, the author of Humans Pushing Marine Life toward ‘Major Extinction’, nearly 10,000 species go extinct each year, and this rate is estimated to be 1,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate (1). Human beings are causing irreversible damage to the oceans and their wildlife, which is being led by two major reasons: Commercial fishing or over-fishing, which damaged the marine environment and caused a loss in the marine life diversity, and pollution, which is a primary way of the extinction causes that drastically modifies the marine life habitat. As a result of the commercial fishing and pollution, many of the marine species will start disappearing of the oceans. Briggs emphasizes that over-fishing “has induced population collapses in many species. So instead of having less than a hundred species at risk, as was the case some 30-40 years ago, there are now a thousand or more (10).”

    Read More

More about Arguments About Overfishing

Open Document