the Issue of Overfishing & its Result in Depleted Fish Stocks

What effect does overfishing have on the survival of other species?

The Issue of Overfishing & Its Result in Depleted Fish Stocks

Not just fish are impacted by this problem. As overfishing continues and species of fish begin to disappear, fishers have began to catch any species that may have value like marine mammals, dolphins, marine turtles, corals, sharks and sea birds. Unfortunately 80% of these animals are unintentionally killed and disposed.

"The Cove," is a documentary movie released in 2009 that discusses illegal mass fishing of dolphins in Japan.

Causes of Overfishing

What is the current status of the environmental problem?

Insufficient Fishing Management

Pirate Fishers- those who do not respect or follow the laws, rules and regulations of overfishing

Unfair Fishing Partnership Agreements- allowing foreign fleets to fish in the waters of developing countries

Subsidies- government subsidizes fleets which results in too many boats in the water

According to the graph below, the amount of fish caught has been ascending since the 50's. By 1995 100 million metric tons of fish was harvested, but the harvest capita has not increased as much. This graph shows that if the present-day limitation is not able to expand, then seafood availability will drastically decrease as the population increases.

Implications for Biodiversity

What you can do locally to help

A study done by the Dalhousie University of Canada predicts that the species that are currently fished will be extinct by the year 2048. 90% of large predatory fish stocks are disappearing. In result of this problem, only medium sized fish are left in the water. But these sized species will only feed off the smaller sized organisms. Once there are no more smaller sized organisms present, the medium sized species will also die off leaving only bacteria like organisms in our oceans and seas. Ultimately, overfishing is causing us to fish down the food web.

The SOFIA report states that more than 25% of the earth's fish stocks are over exploited or diminished, and 52% of fish stock are fully exploited. With that being said about 77% of the fisheries in our world today are over to fully exploitated and are on the brink of collapsing. Also, approximately 90% of large predatory fish stocks are diminished. The entire underwater ecosystem is under a great amount of stress and will surely collapse if the stress continues. With this, overfishing is quickly terminating an important source of food the world needs for economic and dietary reasons.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) was found by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), which helps identify an certify fisheries as being sustainable or not. Seafood products with a MSC ensures customers that the product was caught legally and of quality. Hence, purchase these specially marked products! Also, you can help by not purchasing species that are over-exploited like Atlantic cod, Black Sea Bass, Swordfish, Red Snapper, Shark, Winter Flounder, etc.

What is overfishing?

Overfishing is when a great amount of fish are caught at a faster rate than the aquatic system can naturally replace. This leads to an overall degradation of the system. Billions of people in our world depend on fish as a source of protein. As the earth's population rapidly increases, the oceans and seas are no longer seen as "a limitless source of food," but are being pushed to their boundaries by almost 85% of the world's fisheries where many fish stocks are depleting and have been for the past 50 years.

What are the concerns?

What needs to be done to ensure

a sustainable future

"The effects of overfishing are still reversible, that is, if we act now and act strongly."

stop overfishing!

The above figures summarize the dangers of overfishing

Resolutions to this problem may take anywhere from a decade to centuries to solve this problem and repair the damage. It is possible to solve the problem of overfishing if actions are taken place now and have rules and regulations in place as well as strongly enforced.

• Safe Catch Limits needs to be determined and respected by fisheries
• Bycatch Rules should be enforced to prevent involuntary killing and disposal of fish
• Protection for Important Habitats need to be created against damaging fisheries. Ex: The Coral Triangle
• More monitoring is needed to prevent fisheries to catch more than they are allowed to as well as fish in closed ares and cheat

designed by Péter Puklus for Prezi

Celeste Dancel

Sources:

Mrs. DiLaudo P.3

SBI 4U

16 January 2014