A major resource in our oceans is fish and other marine species. In recent times, fish have been caught with less effort due to new technologies; improved equipment and humans need for money and fishermen are capturing fish at a faster rate than they can reproduce (Evatt G 2017). This is known as overfishing which leads to degradation of our oceans. The fishing industry is growing as the demand for seafood is increasing due to the growing human population. This leads to more jobs and a boost in the economy. There are many negative issues involved with ‘overfishing’. The loss of species and ecosystems which will eventually lead to loss of a valuable food source. What makes matters worse is that other marine species are caught and destroyed for no purpose in the process as bycatch. Scientists predict the commercial extinction of marine life if this trend continues. This raises the question “should more be done to sustainably manage ocean fishing?”
Worldwide 25% of fish stock are overexploited. Another 52% is fully exploited, and in imminent danger of collapse. Worldwide about 90% of predatory fish stocks are
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Although fishing supports the economy and helps feed the people within it, the risk to marine biodiversity is not worth it. Without our protection, fish species are at risk of extinction. We need healthy oceans and fishing industry so future generations have income and food. We as humans can decrease overfishing by limiting the amount of fish we eat, educating others on the effects of overfishing and finding fishing methods that limit by-catch. Our marine system needs environmental laws, policies and safeguards that state how much fishing is legal. It will require a collective effort to solve this problem and successfully replenish our oceans and restore its ecological balance. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “there’s enough on this planet for everyone’s needs but not for everyone’s
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
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.
For years corporations have been depleting the oceans of its wildlife for our benefit. However, one thing these corporations tend to not mention is the bycatch they encounter when catching fish for the purpose of consumption. The definition of bycatch “is the unintended capture of nontarget animals…”(Crowder and Murawski pg.1). Bycatch takes a negative toll on our ocean ecosystem that cannot be reversed.
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
Overfishing is a growing world problem. In 2013, 93 million tonnes of fish were caught
...an ecosystems balance. As research is being done to protect sea life, more can be done. With minimal funds, and low awareness around the world, the need for protection of the ocean is of most importance.
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.
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 ...
Overfishing is a serious problem that often gets overlooked. In the last decade alone, overfishing has caused a decrease of the huke population by 95 percent. This is only one example of a species of fish that has suffered from overfishing. In the article by Udy Bell, called “Overfishing: A Threat to Marine Biology,” Bell talks about how only 1 percent of the world’s oceans are marine protected areas (MPAs). MPAs not only help protect oceans by allowing habitats to recover from damage caused by overfishing but also allow fish to safely reproduce.
I chose to discuss overfishing as my topic. The definition of overfishing is: form of overexploitation where fish stocks are reduced to below acceptable levels. Overfishing can be broken down to three main categories: overcapacity of vessels in the water, unsustainable fishing and food needs. Overfishing can occur in bodies of water of any shape and size.
“Overfishing occurs when more fish are caught than the population can replace through natural reproduction”. CITATION
Overfishing has rapidly gone down in many parts of Australia's fish stocks. The two major factors that are a result of this issue is ; some areas already have decreased biological productivity , along a wide range of fishing efforts that are resulted from commercial and recreational fisheries. Species that are vulnerable to overfishing are continually overfished include the most effective southern bluefin tuna; blue warehou; silver trevally; orange roughy; and bigeye tuna that are found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans beyond the Australian Fishing Zone. Illegal fishing places put continued pressure on some species, with patagonian toothfish in the southern ocean and shark in northern Australia are being the most affected.
overfishing is a real problem and needs to be fixed. Some people may ask how
It is estimated that 90% of the big fish in the oceans are disappearing according to CNN. Overfishing has been a big impact on the world today and it has affected many people. Truthfully, overfishing is a big problem today and drastic measures should be taken to prevent it. Fish have been decreasing by too much each year and solutions should be made. Overfishing has become a problem each year and measures should be taken to limit the effects, such as keeping fish in captivity and controlling pollution.
Unless the current situation improves, stocks of all organisms that are currently fished for food are predicted to collapse drastically by 2048 (WWF 2.) 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