In GCSE Geography students will look at overfishing . This is caused by exploiting a resource too far and is responsible for endangering many species of fish whose stocks are now perilously low.
Overfishing occurs when more fish of a particular species are caught than can be replaced through natural reproduction. More than 85% of the world’s species of fish have been pushed beyond their biological limits. Many have been pushed to the point of extinction, or near extinction, by fishing. 70% of the world's fish species are no longer any use to fisheries as their stocks are so low that there are too few of them to be a viable catch.
Catching as many fish as possible may seem like a good way to maximise profits, but the results affect not only species in the oceans, but also have an economic and cultural impact on the communities that depend on fish for their survival.
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The first example of overfishing came from the harvesting of a whales (not a fish species it’s important to note!) in the 1800s, endangering their numbers. Another example occurred in the mid-1900s, when sardines on the west coast of America were harvested almost to extinction. It is estimated that industrial fishing has removed 90% of the fish from the seas and rivers. Some species have been driven to extinction and many are hanging on - but only just. It is likely that by 2048 fish stocks will be so low that there will be no commercially viable species left to fish in the world. The oceans and rivers will be close to dead.
1 in 5 people rely on fish as their main protein source, whilst 200 million people earn their living by fishing. Stopping fishing is an impractical solution at this time, but there are few viable alternatives. Fish farming can assist, as can systems such as aquaponics in which the fish are grown in ponds and their waste products are used to grow plants. But all this is just a small step in saving fish. As well as commercial fishing on an industrial scale, there is also a large amount of illegal and unregulated fishing.
Have a go at this quiz and see how much you know about how overfishing is endangering life in the oceans.
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1.
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What are marine protected areas (MPAs)? |
|
[ ] |
Areas where destructive fishing practises are banned, including no take zones |
[ ] |
Areas were no ships are allowed to enter |
[ ] |
Lakes and inland waterways that can be more closely controlled |
[ ] |
Areas where intensive fishing is permitted to discourage fleets from using other areas |
|
|
2.
|
What does the term 'bycatch' refer to? |
|
[ ] |
The catch that is kept and sold. This is the species that is listed in the quotas |
[ ] |
The species that the nets and other technology are attempting not to catch |
[ ] |
The incidental capture of non-target species such as dolphins, marine turtles and seabirds |
[ ] |
Extra species that are caught and can provide a valid income for fishermen |
|
|
3.
|
The Global Ghost Gear Initiative seeks to remove what type of litter from the ocean? |
|
[ ] |
Plastic bags |
[ ] |
Ships and other vessels that have sunk |
[ ] |
Oil and oil products that have leaked from ships |
[ ] |
Discarded and lost fishing gear |
|
|
4.
|
Two species of fish which are commonly sold in UK supermarkets are cod and pangasius, often labelled as basa. Basa is a fresh water farmed fish, whilst cod is caught in the wild in the North Atlantic. Why is basa a more sustainable alternative to cod? |
|
[ ] |
Basa is far more healthy, being a freshwater fish |
[ ] |
Cod is a critically endangered species, whilst basa is a common species in the wild and is farmed for human consumption |
[ ] |
The use of farmed fish leads to a greater number of jobs, with these jobs being in areas of economic depression |
[ ] |
Cod takes a lot more energy, in the form of diesel, to catch than basa does |
|
|
5.
|
Lundy, in Devon, is a no take zone. Why does this sustainable management technique have the support of local fishermen? |
|
[ ] |
Within the no take zone many commercial species are now breeding and the species as a whole is coming back |
[ ] |
It limits the areas they all can fish, reducing the competition from other fishermen |
[ ] |
They feel that it's only a token gesture, but this token gesture will stop the government taking more action to limit their industry |
[ ] |
They are illegally fishing in the area anyway |
|
|
6.
|
How do fishing quotas increase the sustainability of the fishing and decrease the risk of overfishing? |
|
[ ] |
By limiting numbers, size and sex of particular species that can be caught |
[ ] |
By stopping the catching of rare species |
[ ] |
By limiting the numbers, size and sex of particular species that can be kept |
[ ] |
By putting time limits on the catching of particular species |
|
|
7.
|
What has caused the growth in demand for fish? |
|
[ ] |
A reduction in the amount of cattle for beef production globally, due to its effect on deforestation |
[ ] |
A switch towards healthier eating in Europe and fish being one of the only sources of protein for some LEDCs |
[ ] |
Fish is a cheaper source of protein than any other, including vegetarian proteins |
[ ] |
Population growth in nations like China and Japan whose uncontrolled fishing methods are removing too many fish |
|
|
8.
|
Long drift nets hang vertically in the water column and entangle anything that comes into contact with them. The UN has banned nets longer than 2.5 km. Which of the following is not a reason for banning long drift nets? |
|
[ ] |
They can be used by smaller vessels without the need for advanced technology |
[ ] |
They are often lost or discarded and become ghost nets |
[ ] |
They have a large bycatch as they entangle everything |
[ ] |
The mesh size is small, meaning all sizes of fish are caught and have died by the time the net is recovered |
|
|
9.
|
Which of the following is a reason against the use of fish farming to replace fishing? |
|
[ ] |
Fish farming reduces pressure on wild stocks |
[ ] |
Fish farming provides jobs and industry worldwide |
[ ] |
Fish excrement is released in large amounts into the local area |
[ ] |
There is no bycatch from fish farming |
|
|
10.
|
Why are some species being raised in hatcheries and released into the wild when they are one or two years old? |
|
[ ] |
It's cheaper to raise them artificially than allow them to grow up in the wild |
[ ] |
The first few months or years of life are when many species are most vulnerable to predation |
[ ] |
The fish are tagged and can be tracked and caught when large enough |
[ ] |
By raising and releasing the fish, it allows a country to establish ownership on them for later catching |
|
|
1.
|
What are marine protected areas (MPAs)? |
|
[x] |
Areas where destructive fishing practises are banned, including no take zones |
[ ] |
Areas were no ships are allowed to enter |
[ ] |
Lakes and inland waterways that can be more closely controlled |
[ ] |
Areas where intensive fishing is permitted to discourage fleets from using other areas |
|
|
2.
|
What does the term 'bycatch' refer to? |
|
[ ] |
The catch that is kept and sold. This is the species that is listed in the quotas |
[ ] |
The species that the nets and other technology are attempting not to catch |
[x] |
The incidental capture of non-target species such as dolphins, marine turtles and seabirds |
[ ] |
Extra species that are caught and can provide a valid income for fishermen |
|
|
3.
|
The Global Ghost Gear Initiative seeks to remove what type of litter from the ocean? |
|
[ ] |
Plastic bags |
[ ] |
Ships and other vessels that have sunk |
[ ] |
Oil and oil products that have leaked from ships |
[x] |
Discarded and lost fishing gear |
|
|
4.
|
Two species of fish which are commonly sold in UK supermarkets are cod and pangasius, often labelled as basa. Basa is a fresh water farmed fish, whilst cod is caught in the wild in the North Atlantic. Why is basa a more sustainable alternative to cod? |
|
[ ] |
Basa is far more healthy, being a freshwater fish |
[x] |
Cod is a critically endangered species, whilst basa is a common species in the wild and is farmed for human consumption |
[ ] |
The use of farmed fish leads to a greater number of jobs, with these jobs being in areas of economic depression |
[ ] |
Cod takes a lot more energy, in the form of diesel, to catch than basa does |
|
|
5.
|
Lundy, in Devon, is a no take zone. Why does this sustainable management technique have the support of local fishermen? |
|
[x] |
Within the no take zone many commercial species are now breeding and the species as a whole is coming back |
[ ] |
It limits the areas they all can fish, reducing the competition from other fishermen |
[ ] |
They feel that it's only a token gesture, but this token gesture will stop the government taking more action to limit their industry |
[ ] |
They are illegally fishing in the area anyway |
|
|
6.
|
How do fishing quotas increase the sustainability of the fishing and decrease the risk of overfishing? |
|
[ ] |
By limiting numbers, size and sex of particular species that can be caught |
[ ] |
By stopping the catching of rare species |
[x] |
By limiting the numbers, size and sex of particular species that can be kept |
[ ] |
By putting time limits on the catching of particular species |
|
|
7.
|
What has caused the growth in demand for fish? |
|
[ ] |
A reduction in the amount of cattle for beef production globally, due to its effect on deforestation |
[x] |
A switch towards healthier eating in Europe and fish being one of the only sources of protein for some LEDCs |
[ ] |
Fish is a cheaper source of protein than any other, including vegetarian proteins |
[ ] |
Population growth in nations like China and Japan whose uncontrolled fishing methods are removing too many fish |
|
|
8.
|
Long drift nets hang vertically in the water column and entangle anything that comes into contact with them. The UN has banned nets longer than 2.5 km. Which of the following is not a reason for banning long drift nets? |
|
[x] |
They can be used by smaller vessels without the need for advanced technology |
[ ] |
They are often lost or discarded and become ghost nets |
[ ] |
They have a large bycatch as they entangle everything |
[ ] |
The mesh size is small, meaning all sizes of fish are caught and have died by the time the net is recovered |
|
|
9.
|
Which of the following is a reason against the use of fish farming to replace fishing? |
|
[ ] |
Fish farming reduces pressure on wild stocks |
[ ] |
Fish farming provides jobs and industry worldwide |
[x] |
Fish excrement is released in large amounts into the local area |
[ ] |
There is no bycatch from fish farming |
|
|
10.
|
Why are some species being raised in hatcheries and released into the wild when they are one or two years old? |
|
[ ] |
It's cheaper to raise them artificially than allow them to grow up in the wild |
[x] |
The first few months or years of life are when many species are most vulnerable to predation |
[ ] |
The fish are tagged and can be tracked and caught when large enough |
[ ] |
By raising and releasing the fish, it allows a country to establish ownership on them for later catching |
|
|