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Effects of pollution on marine ecosystems
Efforts taken to protect endangered wildlife
The impact of overfishing
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Recommended: Effects of pollution on marine ecosystems
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.
First and Foremost, many of the big fish in the oceans are decreasing the most and overfishing has been the problem to it. "The Census of Marine Life, a decade-long international survey of ocean life completed in 2010, estimated that 90% of
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Overfishing doesn’t only occur in the U.S, but we are the only country that makes regulations for the amount of fish we can keep. Other countries do not make regulations which makes overfishing even worse and it is ruining the solutions we are trying to make. "Overfishing and pollution also threaten coral in Madagascar. But climate change -- and the warming and ocean acidification that come with it -- is expected to land the soundest blow." (CNN, Sutter) This reveals that overfishing happens all over the world and it affects many people. If the fish are being overfished, than it will affect the human food …show more content…
The attempts of overfishing aren’t working and people are not listening to the problem. Pollution, climate change and habitat loss are problems too. “One problem is a decline in fish habitats. Also, the oceans' tropical reefs have decreased by half and could all be lost by the year 2050. Much of this is due to warmer waters and acidification. Over 25% of ocean marine life lives on coral reefs and roughly 850 million people directly benefit from them, the loss of coral reefs could be catastrophic, according to the report. A second problem is pollution. There is 250,000 metric tons of plastic in the oceans. Plastic harms smaller fish that bigger fish rely on for survival and may also harm larger fish and mammals who become tangled or trapped, resulting in suffocation. Related to pollution is climate change, which is responsible for changing the oceans more rapidly than at any other point in recorded history. A slight rise in temperature will change ocean currents and increase acidity levels. A slight temperature increase will also disrupt the ocean's food chain. Species will alter their migratory patterns in search of cooler water, which will only further unbalance the world's oceans.” (CNN, Gray) This shows that people need to stop littering and polluting the
First of all, the article Too Many Fishermen enlightens the readers about the dangers and risks of overfishing. For example, on lines 12 through 15 it states, “Overfishing depletes fish stocks by taking fish at a rate faster than they can replace themselves. Many fish are harvested before they are even mature enough to reproduce. As a result, marine species are dying at an alarming rate.” The author used this evidence to better show how real and harmful the situation is. This is used by the author to help support the idea that humans have a negative impact on the ocean and helps to spread the word easier.
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 specie. Overfishing causes a ripple effect that hurts the entire ecosystem. The balance of chain depends largely on the interaction between the predator and the prey. For example, if the larger fish are removed than its prey begins to overpopulate, due to the lack of population control. The balance in the oceans are a urgent problem, around 90% of predatory fish stocks are depleted. The ripples can extend even further to land creatures like
Simply, overfishing depletes fish stocks. The consumer demand for fish has risen dramatically over the past decade or so, so much that fisheries are designing new and innovate ways to catch more fish, and at a faster rate to meet consumer demands. What fisheries do not realize, though, is that their removal of fish from the oceans is too great and far too fast for new fish stocks to be made. So, no mating is occurring, leaving the oceans emptier each day. If this rate continues, all fish in the ocean will be almost non-existent. Already, we are experiencing a major decline in fish population: "In 2003, a scientific report estimated that industrial fishing had reduced the number of large ocean fish to just 10 percent of their pre-industrial population. "(par.6).Overfishing brings the main consequence of decrease in the fish population. People rely on fish for survival (in some countries, fish is their only source of food), and they rely on marine life for products (goods like lipstick, petroleum jelly, make-up, etc.)
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
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
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
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
Overfishing is a growing world problem. In 2013, 93 million tonnes of fish were caught
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 ...
Longhurst, Alan. “Doubt and certainty in fishery science: Are we really headed for a global collapse of stocks?” Fisheries Research 86.1 (2007): 1-5. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.
Overfishing is a harmful practice, that will eventually lead to the collapse of aquatic ecosystems, if it’s not dealt with promptly. Overfishing emerges from the combination of our over consumptive society mixed with the great profits that come from hauling in a good catch. The consumers demand for fish in Japan seems to be at an increasingly high rate due to the enjoyment and cultural values that arise from sushi and other traditional dishes involving seafood. Approximately 23 percent of Japan’s protein intake comes from the ocean, and as a nation consumes 7.5 million tonnes of seafood annually. CITATION
Have you ever thought about going to the store and not being able to purchase certain food because you are only allowed to buy it at a certain time? Here in Hawaii, the government is trying to impose laws and restrictions on fishing sanctuaries throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Articles such as “Rights and Respects for Native Fishing,” “Native Hawaiians And Streams,” and “Ancient Hawaiians Caught More by Fishing Less” discuss overfishing, and I use them to analyze my thoughts on the rights of Native Hawaiian fishing and preservation of marine life.
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...
This problem may seem prevalent and it is very important to know about. It affects marine life in many ways, but humans are also greatly affected.by this problem. People don’t realize what this problem does to them. However the human race can always work and solve this issue. People shouldn’t dump trash in the ocean or any water source. Trash can destroy coral reefs and other important ecosystems and ruin marine life. Most important sewage plants shouldn’t dump raw sewage into the ocean because it provides nutrients to harmful algae. Governments around the world should put more restrictions on sewage and the disposal of it. But if the solution wants to be solved people must work together.
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).”