Over Fishing
By: Sanjana B
Age: 14
Hyderabad, India
By: Sanjana B
Age: 14
Hyderabad, India
What is overfishing? Overfishing is simply the taking of wildlife from the sea at rates too high for fished species to replace themselves. Overfishing is harmful to the environment.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the number of overfished stocks globally has tripled in half a century and today fully one-third of the world's assessed fisheries are currently pushed beyond their biological limits (qtd in World Wildlife Fund). Due to the increase in fishing vessels and the fact that they have an increased capacity, the pressure from fishing grows, hence, the likelihood of damage to the ocean ecosystem increases. So, what are the impacts? And how does overfishing impact the entire ecosystem? Overfishing can change the size of the fish that remain because there is less prey. It can also change the way they reproduce and mature. Overfishing can destroy the environment and marine ecology and can completely disrupt the food chain. For example, herring is a vital prey species for the cod. Therefore, when herring are overfished the cod population suffers as well. And this has a chain reaction on the other species in the food chain as well. For example, seabirds such as puffins were dependent on the sandeel for their food .However, with the overfishing of sandeels, the seabirds automatically declined. Using these examples, it can be understood that if the food chain breaks at any point, it will have an effect on all the living organisms in the chain. Many species of fish are now endangered and also face the risk of extinction due to overfishing. The World Wildlife Fund starts projects such as the fishery improvement profit which allows different researchers and NGO’s to improve general fishing practices and conditions.
Bibliography:
“ Overfishing threats” World Wildlife Fund,https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing
Jetson, Kristen. “Impacts of overfishing on human lives” Marine Science Today, Marine Science Today LLC, 2014, http://marinesciencetoday.com/2014/04/09/impact-of-overfishing-on-human-lives/
Mehta, Angeli. “Overfishing a worse threat to oceans than climate change” Ethical Corporation, 22 January 2019, http://www.ethicalcorp.com/over-fishing-worse-threat-oceans-climate-change
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the number of overfished stocks globally has tripled in half a century and today fully one-third of the world's assessed fisheries are currently pushed beyond their biological limits (qtd in World Wildlife Fund). Due to the increase in fishing vessels and the fact that they have an increased capacity, the pressure from fishing grows, hence, the likelihood of damage to the ocean ecosystem increases. So, what are the impacts? And how does overfishing impact the entire ecosystem? Overfishing can change the size of the fish that remain because there is less prey. It can also change the way they reproduce and mature. Overfishing can destroy the environment and marine ecology and can completely disrupt the food chain. For example, herring is a vital prey species for the cod. Therefore, when herring are overfished the cod population suffers as well. And this has a chain reaction on the other species in the food chain as well. For example, seabirds such as puffins were dependent on the sandeel for their food .However, with the overfishing of sandeels, the seabirds automatically declined. Using these examples, it can be understood that if the food chain breaks at any point, it will have an effect on all the living organisms in the chain. Many species of fish are now endangered and also face the risk of extinction due to overfishing. The World Wildlife Fund starts projects such as the fishery improvement profit which allows different researchers and NGO’s to improve general fishing practices and conditions.
Bibliography:
“ Overfishing threats” World Wildlife Fund,https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing
Jetson, Kristen. “Impacts of overfishing on human lives” Marine Science Today, Marine Science Today LLC, 2014, http://marinesciencetoday.com/2014/04/09/impact-of-overfishing-on-human-lives/
Mehta, Angeli. “Overfishing a worse threat to oceans than climate change” Ethical Corporation, 22 January 2019, http://www.ethicalcorp.com/over-fishing-worse-threat-oceans-climate-change
Editors notes:
Resources To Explore::
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Resources To Explore::
- Sea Shepherd (Video 2 min) : Operation Treasured Islands - Anti poaching and Research
Who To Support:
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