Commercial Fishing and Our Oceans
Commercial Fishing and Our Oceans
“We all have a romantic vision of the ocean being a vast, limitless territory open to all. The truth is nearly 70 per cent of all fish stocks are considered fully exploited, over-exploited or severely depleted. The ocean 's ability to replenish fish has been outstripped by the industry 's ability to catch fish.”- Annabel Graham, Chinese activist and author. There was once a time where the oceans were pure and fish were plentiful. However, that was quite some time ago. Today, the oceans are filthy and filled with more toxins than fish. It is strange to think that since the 1950s, the birth of commercial fishing, that our oceans have almost been completely destroyed. Through industry-based fishing, whole ecosystems have been almost completely devastated; several species that have once been abundant have now been placed on the endangered species list. If commercial fishing is not subdued within the next couple of years, then the potential collapse of commercial fishing, and our ocean’s ecosystems, will be upon us. What is overfishing you may ask? Well to put it quite simply, it is the act of excessive fishing, thus causing certain types of fish to become scarce. According to the US Commission on Ocean Policy, “25% to 30% of the world’s major fish stocks are overexploited” and “of the nation’s 267 major fish stocks…roughly 20% are either already overfished, experiencing overfishing, or approaching an overfished condition” (Jeantheau). If that doesn’t seem troublesome enough, the act of overfishing has initiated a trickling effect on that of predatory fish, causing their populations to drop by 90 percent or more in the past 40-50 years. It is amazing to think how much damage can be done in as little as 50 years. The technological advances made by fishermen have proven to be efficient, but almost too efficient. Commercial fishing boats “use state-of-the-art fish-finding sonar that can pinpoint schools of fish quickly and accurately”
“We all have a romantic vision of the ocean being a vast, limitless territory open to all. The truth is nearly 70 per cent of all fish stocks are considered fully exploited, over-exploited or severely depleted. The ocean 's ability to replenish fish has been outstripped by the industry 's ability to catch fish.”- Annabel Graham, Chinese activist and author. There was once a time where the oceans were pure and fish were plentiful. However, that was quite some time ago. Today, the oceans are filthy and filled with more toxins than fish. It is strange to think that since the 1950s, the birth of commercial fishing, that our oceans have almost been completely destroyed. Through industry-based fishing, whole ecosystems have been almost completely devastated; several species that have once been abundant have now been placed on the endangered species list. If commercial fishing is not subdued within the next couple of years, then the potential collapse of commercial fishing, and our ocean’s ecosystems, will be upon us. What is overfishing you may ask? Well to put it quite simply, it is the act of excessive fishing, thus causing certain types of fish to become scarce. According to the US Commission on Ocean Policy, “25% to 30% of the world’s major fish stocks are overexploited” and “of the nation’s 267 major fish stocks…roughly 20% are either already overfished, experiencing overfishing, or approaching an overfished condition” (Jeantheau). If that doesn’t seem troublesome enough, the act of overfishing has initiated a trickling effect on that of predatory fish, causing their populations to drop by 90 percent or more in the past 40-50 years. It is amazing to think how much damage can be done in as little as 50 years. The technological advances made by fishermen have proven to be efficient, but almost too efficient. Commercial fishing boats “use state-of-the-art fish-finding sonar that can pinpoint schools of fish quickly and accurately”
Cited: Garrett, Jemima. “Pacific nations extend bans on tuna fishing”. Australia Network News. Oct. 2010. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.