National Geographic

Why is overfishing a global concern? The problem of Overfishing We all love to eat fish, don’t we? It is the best source of protein and very healthy food in many ways. We also know where fish comes from—our oceans. Many decades ago, our oceans were full of fishes but unfortunately, this is not the case today. Our world today faces many complex issues ranging from pollution, climate change, wars, food crises, waste, over-population… and of course over-fishing. These are all problems we have created for ourselves, often as a result of our selfish activities. Overfishing particularly is one issue that is often underrated. By the end of this lesson, we will know how catastrophic overfishing is and how we are heading down a steep slope to a global disaster if we do not act quickly enough.

European Parliament supports major fishery reform Email Overfishing is a dramatic problem in most areas of the oceans, and many people are desperately trying to protect what’s left of the ecosystems; thankfully though, the European Union has approved a major reform by an enormous majority. The European Parliament was having its say in the on-going attempt to shake up Europe’s controversial Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), with many researchers warning that many fish species are fished at levels far beyond what the ecosystem can sustainably support. As well as fulfilling (some of) the environmentalists and scientists demands, the Eurpoean Parliament has also agreed to recalculate the so-called ‘maximum sustainable yield’. “We have shown today that the European Parliament is anything but toothless. Campaign groups have been celebrating this decision, but this is just the first step in a larger scale issue.

The Dirty Truth About Plastic BPA, in turn, is becoming this year’s poster child for all our doubts and fears about the safety of plastic. New research highlighting the possible dangers of BPA has received tremendous media coverage. In mice, at least, BPA exposure at crucial stages of development induces observable changes (such as breast or prostate abnormalities) that last a lifetime. The research may be confusing to a layperson, yet some consensus has been reached: Last November a panel sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) determined that there was at least “some concern” about BPA’s effect on the fetal and infant brain. What is not known is whether infants and children under 6 are even more heavily exposed, since they have not yet been studied (for phthalates, Swan says, levels are definitely higher in children than in adults). To shift public understanding on this issue is staggeringly difficult, especially given that exposure to plastic is not a matter of individual lifestyle.

When Overfishing started and Overfishing UC Davis School of Vet Med: Oiled Wildlife Care Network: What Happens During an Oil Spill Recovery and Transportation - When there is an oil spill, specially trained workers go out and collect oiled wildlife. They wear protective clothing that keeps the oil off of their skin. Once they collect the oiled animals, they stabilize, or make sure they are not in immediate danger, then transport them to a medical facility for care. Intake – When the oiled animals get to the medical facility they go through intake, which is a full physical exam, just like you get when you go to the doctor. Workers will check their temperature, how much they weigh, whether they look healthy, and how much oil is on them. Each animal gets a medical record, so that workers can keep track of how they are doing. Stabilization – After the oiled animals have gone through intake, they are stabilized. Cleaning – This is the step where the oiled animals are finally washed. Release – Once an animal is completely waterproof, healthy, and is acting and eating normally, then they can be released.

What measures are in place to control overfishing? What is being done about overfishing? For many years, there have been all sorts of measures aimed at controlling overfishing, but many of them have not worked well. Below are a few of what is already in place in many fishing regions of the world. Fisheries are encouraged to stick to their Quota to limit the number of fish that can be caught at any time. There are only a set number of days that fishing is allowed. No-fishing zones have been marked in many areas to allow fishes to recover. Fishing gear that catch tiny or baby fishes are discouraged to help the little fish grow. These days, there are many monitoring equipment and installations set up to regulate the activities and movement of fishing trawlers. In spite of all this, the problem of overfishing is increasing and we are all heading for a massive disaster if we do not do more.

Marine problems: Pollution Seas of garbage Solid garbage also makes its way to the ocean. Plastic bags, balloons, glass bottles, shoes, packaging material – if not disposed of correctly, almost everything we throw away can reach the sea. Plastic garbage, which decomposes very slowly, is often mistaken for food by marine animals. High concentrations of plastic material, particularly plastic bags, have been found blocking the breathing passages and stomachs of many marine species, including whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, and turtles. This garbage can also come back to shore, where it pollutes beaches and other coastal habitats. Sewage disposal In many parts of the world, sewage flows untreated, or under-treated, into the ocean. This sewage can also lead to eutrophication. Toxic chemicals Almost every marine organism, from the tiniest plankton to whales and polar bears, is contaminated with man-made chemicals, such as pesticides and chemicals used in common consumer products.

Marine turtles Habitat loss and degradation Uncontrolled development has led directly to the destruction of critically important nesting beaches. Lights from roads and buildings attract hatchlings and disorient them away from the sea. Vehicle traffic on beaches compacts the sand and makes it impossible for female turtles to dig nests. Sea walls and jetties change long-shore drift patterns and can cause erosion or destruction of entire beach sections. Beach restoration projects aimed at protecting seaside buildings, through dredging and sand filling continue to destroy important nearshore feeding grounds and alter nesting beaches. Important marine turtle feeding habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds are continuously being damaged or entirely destroyed as a result of sedimentation, nutrient run-off from the land, insensitive tourist development, destructive fishing techniques and climate change. Hunting and poaching Trade Incidental capture Climate change Pollution Disease