Over Fishing: Greatest Human Threat to an Oceans Survival

OVER FISHING: GREATEST HUMAN THREAT TO AN OCEANS SURVIVAL

BY EVONIA HOGAN

AXIA COLLEGE AT UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX

Over Fishing: Greatest Human Threat to an Oceans Survival

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................3 OVER FISHING - DEFINITION........................................................................................................4 PROBLEMS OF OVER FISHING.......................................................................................................4 Effects on the Ecosystem.........................................................................................................4 Effects on Employment ...........................................................................................................4 POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO OVER FISHING.....................................................................................4 What can be done about the problem of over fishing? ...........................................................4 How will a management and sustainment plan affect the community?...................................5 What are the limitations and challenges of management and sustainment plan?..................5 OPPOSITION TO POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS..........................................................................................6 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................................7 TABLE 1. MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINMENT PLAN....................................................................8

Over Fishing: Greatest Human Threat to an Oceans Survival

Introduction
Over fishing has been here since the 11th century. This has caused the destruction of local and regional ecosystems. Once the fisheries depleted a specific ecosystem, they moved on to unexploited waters. (Greenpeace.org, 2008) Over fishing has now reached global levels of devastation to the planets oceans. The problem is now one that the people of the entire world must work on to solve.

Over Fishing: Greatest Human Threat to an Oceans Survival

Over Fishing - Definition

Over fishing occurs when fish are caught faster than they can reproduce.

Problems of Over Fishing

Effects on the Ecosystem It has been shown that it is the greatest negative human impact on the world's oceans. It makes the oceans ecosystems more vulnerable to harm. Over fishing contributes to the decline of marine birds and mammals by reducing their food supplies (NRDC.org, n.d.). This causes a domino effect that is damaging the ecosystem. With the loss of certain varieties of fish comes the loss of their predators. The depletion of those predators come the loss of predators that are higher on the food chain. Each loss of a link in the food chain weakens the survival of all creatures and plants. Effects on Employment Over fishing has caused the closure of fisheries, once the supply of fish is depleted. The closure of these fisheries causes a dramatic increase of unemployment amongst the workers. It also causes those businesses that support the fisheries and their families to go under.

Possible Solutions to Over Fishing

What can be done about the problem of over fishing? Support a National Healthy Oceans Act. (Ocean Conservancy.org, n.d.) Buy sustainable seafood This comes from a fishery whose practices can be maintained indefinitely without reducing the target species ability to maintain its population. Support conservation measures to rebuild fish stocks and stop overfishing. Support research on ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries management. Promoting legislation that requires sustainable fishing. Help fisheries manage implementation of existing laws that govern fishing. Support legal action to enforce laws that protect fish and ocean ecosystems.

Over Fishing: Greatest Human Threat to an Oceans Survival

Support sustainable aquaculture Farming species that are plant eaters, who can breed in captivity, and does not produce high levels of nutrient output. Reduce fuel subsidies to commercial fishermen. Sanctions against countries that continue to practice over fishing. Encourage seafood buyers to engage in fixing troubled, "red-listed" fisheries. An example of a management and sustainment plan to be used for the alleviation of over

fishing. (See Table 1.) How will a management and sustainment plan affect the community? This plan will provide information to the community to make an educated and informed decision about supporting the elimination of over fishing. We as a people of this planet have no idea of the effects of this issue. The only information that is readily available is that which is made visible by the media. This plan will expose the problem on a regional level. When a problem is presented to an unwary victim, it tends to get greater support. What are the limitations and challenges of management and sustainment plan? Every plan starts out with the intention of changing the world. Both critics and supporters will participate in the development of a more detailed plan. Each battle will have to be fought as they occur. This plan will be taken apart and redesigned to combat the changes that will happen over time. This plan will only work as hard as the developer and will succeed if a persistent effort is given towards the cause.

Over Fishing: Greatest Human Threat to an Oceans Survival

Opposition to Possible Solutions

The fishing industry's is looking for a short term solution to over fishing by turning towards the Pacific. They be aquaculture is not a solution to overfishing. Traditional aquaculture make substantial contributions to food supplies, but they are not sustainable. The methods used for some aquaculture farming only resulted in widespread degrading of the environment. Unsustainable aquaculture also negatively impacts on the food supplies and food security of developing coastal countries. (Greenpeace.org, 2008)

Conclusion
The oceans of the world cannot survive without our help. When the oceans are all gone and the creatures that survive there have perished, what will we do? Remember, there will only be a survival of the fittest. So far, the creatures of the sea have resorted to seeking out other food sources that are in the ocean. What will happen when those sources are depleted? Every one becomes fair game, where will you hide?

Over Fishing: Greatest Human Threat to an Oceans Survival

References
Staff of National Resources Defense Council, (n.d.). Issues: Trouble in the Ocean, NRDC.org, Retrieved June 21, 2008 from http://oceans.nrdc.org/issues Staff of Ocean Conservancy, (n.d.), Start a Sea Change, Issues: Over fishing, Ocean Conservancy.org, Retrieved June 23, 2008 from http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issues_overfishing Staff of Greenpeace International, (2008), Sustainable Aquaculture, Greenpeace.org. Retrieved June 23, 2008 from http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/overfishing Staff of Greenpeace International, (2008), A Brief History of Over fishing, Greenpeace International. Retrieved June 23, 2008 from http://www.greenpeace.org/international/seafood/understanding-the-problem/overfishinghistory

Over Fishing: Greatest Human Threat to an Oceans Survival

Table 1. Management and Sustainment Plan

Action Items Research and identify the effects of over fishing. Action Steps Review environmental Web sites and journals. Document the sources of over fishing. Provide both environmental and economic effects of over fishing Document video interviews of environmental researchers and facilitators. Develop an education program about the effects of over fishing. Develop an action plan for possible solutions. Form a group of sympathizers. Develop a presentation about why this program is needed and include the ill effects of over fishing, the lifestyle changes that will be required, and the benefits and challenges of change. Develop a presentation about what we can do to help resolve the problems of over fishing on a global level. Contact local government agencies and get information on creating a non-profit group to support the cause. Create a charter for the group. Schedule presentation days and times with as many organizations that lobby for a greener earth as possible. Attend regional lobbyist meetings to present the benefits of the programs. Request to be added to the agenda of each group to keep an active presence. Document the audio and visual equipment needed for presentation and layout of each meeting place. Ongoing Month 1-3 Timeline Month 1-3

Month 1 - 9 Month 1 -3