Oceanography Essay Outline
Oscar james
Geology 130
Introduction to Oceanography
M/W 10:35 AM
End of the Line: Overfishing in Our World’s Oceans There is no doubt that the oceans are among our biggest resources for life on earth, but they are also our scapegoat for some of mankind’s biggest problems. Because the oceans cover the majority of our planet’s surface, we believe it to be this massive amount of endless means to food, life, and nutrients. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The oceans are slowly diminishing away in resources and humans are responsible. While it’s true the oceans can provide us with some amazing eco-solutions like alternative energy, new life, and environmental protections, they’re still undergoing some serious stress factors. One of the most …show more content…
prolific major issues facing our world oceans is that of overfishing. Overfishing, in my opinion, is the most major issue facing the world oceans to date and is having some serious impacts on our ocean. Not only is mankind gradually working its way towards wiping out several species, but also the other species of marine animals that are dependent upon these fish for survival. It’s been shown that overfishing can cause marine animals to starve, since we’re taking food from their mouths in too large of numbers for them to be able to maintain themselves. According to National Geographic, overfishing first started in the mid-20th century, when international efforts to increase the availability and affordability of protein-rich foods led to concerted government efforts to increase fishing capacity. Favorable policies and loans created a rapid rise of big industrial fishing operations, which quickly replaced local boatmen as the world’s source of seafood. These large, profit-seeking commercial fleets were extremely aggressive, searching the world’s oceans and developing more sophisticated methods and technologies for finding, extracting, and processing their target species. Consumers soon grew familiar to having access to a wide selection of fish species at ridiculously affordable prices due to mass supply. But by 1989, when about 90 million tons of catch were taken from the ocean, the industry had hit its high-water mark, and harvests have declined ever since. Fisheries for the most sought-after species, like orange roughy, Chilean sea bass, and blue-fin tuna have collapsed. 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. GreenPeace states that the fishing industry today has vessels that can go further, stay longer and catch more, easily out-fishing nature’s ability to replenish fish. Massive ships using state-of-the-art fish-finding sonar can pinpoint schools of fish quickly and accurately. Some vessels are fitted out as giant floating factories – containing fish processing and packing plants, huge freezing systems, and powerful engines to drag enormous fishing gear through the ocean. One example of these massive factory trawler is the 144-meter long Annelies Ilena (ex Atlantic Dawn). This super-sized tuna fishing vessel can carry up to 7,000 tons of processed fish in its freezers. Scientists are warning that this grossly unsustainable approach to fishing is resulting in profound and possibly permanent changes in our oceans. Healthy oceans have a healthy balance of different species, from the plankton and krill that are the base of the food chain for many ocean species, to the top predator fish – each has a part to play to keep the oceans productive. Over the past 55 years, as fisheries have returned lower and lower harvests, humans have begun to understand that the oceans we 'd assumed were infinite and rich are in fact highly vulnerable and sensitive. Add overfishing to pollution, climate change, habitat destruction, and acidification, and a picture of a system in crisis emerges. Many scientists say most fish populations could be restored with aggressive management of fisheries, better enforcement of laws governing catches, and increased use of aquaculture, according to National Geographic.
And in many regions, there is reason for hope. But illegal fishing and unsustainable harvesting still plagues the industry. And a public grown accustomed to abundant seafood and largely apathetic about the plight of the oceans complicates efforts to repair the damage we 've done.
If we want to we can reverse most of the destruction. In some situations, it might only take a decade, in others it might take centuries. According to Overfishing.org, in order to help manage fisheries, safe catch limits must be enforced. A constantly reassessed, scientifically determined, limit on the total number of fish caught and landed by a fishery should be implemented. Making sure that all harvests aren’t overstepping the oceans’ replenishment speeds.
Also, many ocean habitats must be protected. The key parts in ecosystems need full protection from destructive fisheries. Some examples could include spawning and nursing grounds of fish, delicate sea floor, unique unexplored habitats, and corals. These areas are vital to the constant growth and continued replenishment of fish in our oceans. If we were to destroy the breeding habitats of a certain species, then number would begin to decline more and more rapidly. A conservation effort must be made to help protect these
habitats.
To conclude, the effects of overfishing are still reversible, but we must act soon and strong in order for anything like that to happen. What can we do as individuals to help? Well, it’s fair to say that individuals cannot solve this global problem by ourselves, we need the help of politicians to strengthen international law. What we can do as individuals is make a difference. Over a decade ago many people started buying dolphin-friendly tuna. Now the time has come to buy ocean friendly tuna. We must stay informed on the current issues of overfishing. We must be aware of what we eat and how it affects the oceans’ eco-system. And most importantly we must spread the word. It is up to us as individuals to help reverse this crisis and return the oceans back to its stable and remarkable form.
Works Cited
"Documentaries and Movies about Overfishing." Overfishing. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov.-Dec. 2014. http://overfishing.org/pages/Documentaries_about_overfish.php?w=pages
"Overfishing -- National Geographic." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov.-Dec. 2014. http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-overfishing/
"Overfishing." Greenpeace International. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov.-Dec. 2014. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/oceans/fit-for-the-future/overfishing/
"World Ocean Review." World Ocean Review. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov.-Dec. 2014. http://worldoceanreview.com/en/wor-1/fisheries/causes-of-overfishing/
Geology 130
Introduction to Oceanography
M/W 10:35 AM
End of the Line: Overfishing in Our World’s Oceans There is no doubt that the oceans are among our biggest resources for life on earth, but they are also our scapegoat for some of mankind’s biggest problems. Because the oceans cover the majority of our planet’s surface, we believe it to be this massive amount of endless means to food, life, and nutrients. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The oceans are slowly diminishing away in resources and humans are responsible. While it’s true the oceans can provide us with some amazing eco-solutions like alternative energy, new life, and environmental protections, they’re still undergoing some serious stress factors. One of the most …show more content…
prolific major issues facing our world oceans is that of overfishing. Overfishing, in my opinion, is the most major issue facing the world oceans to date and is having some serious impacts on our ocean. Not only is mankind gradually working its way towards wiping out several species, but also the other species of marine animals that are dependent upon these fish for survival. It’s been shown that overfishing can cause marine animals to starve, since we’re taking food from their mouths in too large of numbers for them to be able to maintain themselves. According to National Geographic, overfishing first started in the mid-20th century, when international efforts to increase the availability and affordability of protein-rich foods led to concerted government efforts to increase fishing capacity. Favorable policies and loans created a rapid rise of big industrial fishing operations, which quickly replaced local boatmen as the world’s source of seafood. These large, profit-seeking commercial fleets were extremely aggressive, searching the world’s oceans and developing more sophisticated methods and technologies for finding, extracting, and processing their target species. Consumers soon grew familiar to having access to a wide selection of fish species at ridiculously affordable prices due to mass supply. But by 1989, when about 90 million tons of catch were taken from the ocean, the industry had hit its high-water mark, and harvests have declined ever since. Fisheries for the most sought-after species, like orange roughy, Chilean sea bass, and blue-fin tuna have collapsed. 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. GreenPeace states that the fishing industry today has vessels that can go further, stay longer and catch more, easily out-fishing nature’s ability to replenish fish. Massive ships using state-of-the-art fish-finding sonar can pinpoint schools of fish quickly and accurately. Some vessels are fitted out as giant floating factories – containing fish processing and packing plants, huge freezing systems, and powerful engines to drag enormous fishing gear through the ocean. One example of these massive factory trawler is the 144-meter long Annelies Ilena (ex Atlantic Dawn). This super-sized tuna fishing vessel can carry up to 7,000 tons of processed fish in its freezers. Scientists are warning that this grossly unsustainable approach to fishing is resulting in profound and possibly permanent changes in our oceans. Healthy oceans have a healthy balance of different species, from the plankton and krill that are the base of the food chain for many ocean species, to the top predator fish – each has a part to play to keep the oceans productive. Over the past 55 years, as fisheries have returned lower and lower harvests, humans have begun to understand that the oceans we 'd assumed were infinite and rich are in fact highly vulnerable and sensitive. Add overfishing to pollution, climate change, habitat destruction, and acidification, and a picture of a system in crisis emerges. Many scientists say most fish populations could be restored with aggressive management of fisheries, better enforcement of laws governing catches, and increased use of aquaculture, according to National Geographic.
And in many regions, there is reason for hope. But illegal fishing and unsustainable harvesting still plagues the industry. And a public grown accustomed to abundant seafood and largely apathetic about the plight of the oceans complicates efforts to repair the damage we 've done.
If we want to we can reverse most of the destruction. In some situations, it might only take a decade, in others it might take centuries. According to Overfishing.org, in order to help manage fisheries, safe catch limits must be enforced. A constantly reassessed, scientifically determined, limit on the total number of fish caught and landed by a fishery should be implemented. Making sure that all harvests aren’t overstepping the oceans’ replenishment speeds.
Also, many ocean habitats must be protected. The key parts in ecosystems need full protection from destructive fisheries. Some examples could include spawning and nursing grounds of fish, delicate sea floor, unique unexplored habitats, and corals. These areas are vital to the constant growth and continued replenishment of fish in our oceans. If we were to destroy the breeding habitats of a certain species, then number would begin to decline more and more rapidly. A conservation effort must be made to help protect these
habitats.
To conclude, the effects of overfishing are still reversible, but we must act soon and strong in order for anything like that to happen. What can we do as individuals to help? Well, it’s fair to say that individuals cannot solve this global problem by ourselves, we need the help of politicians to strengthen international law. What we can do as individuals is make a difference. Over a decade ago many people started buying dolphin-friendly tuna. Now the time has come to buy ocean friendly tuna. We must stay informed on the current issues of overfishing. We must be aware of what we eat and how it affects the oceans’ eco-system. And most importantly we must spread the word. It is up to us as individuals to help reverse this crisis and return the oceans back to its stable and remarkable form.
Works Cited
"Documentaries and Movies about Overfishing." Overfishing. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov.-Dec. 2014. http://overfishing.org/pages/Documentaries_about_overfish.php?w=pages
"Overfishing -- National Geographic." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov.-Dec. 2014. http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-overfishing/
"Overfishing." Greenpeace International. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov.-Dec. 2014. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/oceans/fit-for-the-future/overfishing/
"World Ocean Review." World Ocean Review. N.p., n.d. Web. Nov.-Dec. 2014. http://worldoceanreview.com/en/wor-1/fisheries/causes-of-overfishing/