Written by Arjun Bedi
Edited by Emil Koch & Hanna Karasinska
Oceans are the largest ecosystem in the world, covering 70% of our world's surface, and are home to approximately 2.2 million different species of flora and fauna. For the past 3.6 billion years, life has constantly managed to find a way to survive in our oceans. However, predatory fishing practices uproot the ecosystems that have otherwise survived since primordial times.
The Shocking Reality of Overfishing
Broadly speaking, overfishing is defined as a point where the rate of fishing exceeds that at which the population being fished can replenish. However, this definition seems almost too clinical to capture the full gravity of what is happening.
Alarmingly, approximately 85% of aquatic stocks, meaning populations of fish and other species, are fully exploited and overfished. Two types of overfishing perpetuate this insidious issue: recruitment overfishing and growth overfishing.
Recruitment overfishing occurs when a significant proportion of the adults eligible for reproduction in the population are caught. As a result, there are not enough individuals available for reproduction. As a result, population sizes shrink significantly over many generations. A smaller population size is detrimental due to the decreased genetic variation. Consequently, inbreeding likely occurs, increasing disease susceptibility, diminishing environmental adaptability, and increasing the chance of extinction. In addition, when a species becomes extinct or endangered, the ecosystem and food chain are disrupted, which has a chain effect on other marine organisms.
Growth overfishing is an overfishing where fish are harvested before reaching physical maturation. Two main points can be derived from this: These younger specimens are taken before they are at the optimum age to reproduce. Population sizes will, therefore, dwindle and lead to the issues discussed previously. The second point is that these younger fish will inevitably be smaller and weigh less. Fishermen will be forced to fish more of the population to meet the quota for yield. This process could be more efficient and harm our fish stock in the long term.
Unsustainable fishing methods and their effects:
While there are no rigid criteria by which a fishing method is classified as unsustainable, it is considered by many a technique that cannot be relied on due to adverse environmental, economic, and social consequences in the long term. We will briefly describe several unethical fishing methods and then discuss why they are debilitating to the marine ecosystem.
Bottom trawling: This method involves dragging a large net along the seafloor to capture selected fish. Despite the high yield, this method causes glaring environmental problems, including significant damage to the ocean seafloor. This leads to the destruction of coral reefs and seagrass beds, disruption of ecosystems, and lowering of biodiversity. Also, this method is notorious for its high amount of bycatch. 'Bycatch' is a concept in fishing defined as the harvesting of undesired species of fish and marine organisms that are caught and discarded, often injured or killed in the process.
Cyanide fishing: Divers spray sodium cyanide to stun fishes and make them easy to capture. While it allows the effective capture of live fish that hide in coral reefs, it causes poisons, bleaches, and kills coral reefs. Bycatch is also an issue, as
the cyanide is exposed to the open water. Finally, the very toxic material poses a life risk to the divers employing it. Despite being outright prohibited in many nations, this practice is nonetheless common in many regions of Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Dynamite fishing: Involves using explosions to kill schools of targeted fish and maximize yield quickly. Barbaric and crude, it has astronomical bycatch rates, and the inevitable destruction of coral reefs may take hundreds of years to rebuild. There is also a danger to the fishermen, as erroneous explosives may result in severe injury or death. Moreover, the resultant erosion of the surrounding habitat affects the livelihood of countless future generations of fishermen.
Ghost fishing: Technically, this is not an active way of fishing, but it is an important issue considering unsustainable fishing. 'Ghost fishing' is fishing equipment abandoned, left, discarded, or lost at sea that
traps (leading to starvation), suffocates, or causes lacerations (physical harm from exposed sharp parts of specific cages, etc.).
How did fishing become so unsustainable?
If all these fishing methods are so environmentally degrading and overfishing is such a relevant issue in the 21st century, why have they not been stamped out? A multitude of factors must be considered to understand this issue.
Firstly, the economic aspect of profit pressured the continued use of unsustainable fishing methods. Global demand for products stemming from aquatic sealife rises yearly and is projected to double by 2050. As demand increases, supply must meet it. In the interest of profit, fishing industries harvest more, which has caused the extremely exploited, collapsed, and overfished stocks we see today. Also, certain fishing businesses may prioritize the short-term benefit, in which overfishing and unethical fishing methods thrive.
Then, the social perspective. Many coastal communities with fishing as their primary and often only source of income contribute to overfishing to meet customers' needs, but most importantly, those of their household and financial situation. More rural areas and locations where fishing makes up their culture and lifestyle may use traditional or standard practices without the awareness of their actions' impact. On the other hand, as advancements are made in fishing techniques to refine efficiency, little care may be taken regarding sustainability.
Finally, the largest and arguably greatest reason: Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. Poorly regulated regions, areas with looser laws regarding sustainable fishing, lack of protected fisheries, and criminal fishermen actively avoiding regulation and breaking laws is likely the most significant cause behind overfishing and the aforementioned fishing practices.
How can we help?
Here are some concrete actions you can do to improve the condition of our oceans:
Educate Yourself: First and foremost, the more informed you are, the better you will be equipped to promote positive change in the oceans. Dive deeper into the economics and science and become knowledgeable about the complexities of overfishing and its implications.
Spread Awareness: Second, social media is crucial for spreading awareness. Your efficient method to use your online presence to magnify a good message and motivate others to take action against this urgent issue is to share articles, films, and infographics about overfishing with your friends and followers.
Support Charitable Organizations: Numerous organizations are dedicated to ocean conservation and sustainable fishing. Consider supporting or volunteering with groups like Project Seahorse, Oceana, or the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Your contributions could make a real difference.
Choose Sustainable Seafood: When dining out or shopping for seafood, look for eco-friendly labels or certifications like the MSC's blue fish label. These indicate that the seafood has been sourced sustainably, helping to reduce the demand for overfished species and incentivizing fishing businesses to go greener.
Advocate for Policy Changes: Supporting lawmakers and policies that prioritize sustainable fishing practices and stricter enforcement of existing regulations can go a long way in the advocacy for less overfished stocks.
Reduce Seafood Consumption: Reducing your consumption of seafood, especially species that are at risk of overfishing, and instead opting for plant-based or alternative protein sources may not only contribute to the easing of market pressures but also enhance your own life as you look for healthier and more sustainable options in your pallet.
Promote Responsible Tourism: If you enjoy ocean-related activities like diving or fishing, choose operators and destinations that adhere to responsible and sustainable practices.
Participate in Citizen Science: Join citizen science programs that monitor marine ecosystems and collect data on fish populations. Your contributions can help scientists and researchers make informed decisions based on accurate and up-to-date data.
Engage with Local Communities: If you live in or visit coastal areas, engage with local fishing communities. Encourage and support initiatives that promote sustainable practices within these communities.
In conclusion, the facts and statistics paint a bleak picture, but hope exists. While it's true that our oceans bear the scars of exploitation, they also hold the potential for recovery and renewal. The solutions are within our reach, beginning with awareness and action.
The oceans have been a source of wonder, inspiration, and sustenance for humanity throughout history. As we now stand at a crossroads, let us choose a path that leads to a brighter, more sustainable future for our oceans—a future in which they flourish for billions of years. By educating ourselves, spreading awareness, and actively supporting sustainable initiatives, we can contribute to preserving our oceans for future generations to marvel at. It's not just a responsibility; it's necessary to ensure our marine ecosystems' health and beauty!
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References:
[1] “The Horrific Way Fish Are Caught for Your Aquarium—With Cyanide.” National Geographic, 10 Mar. 2016, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/160310-aquarium-saltwater-tropical-fish-cyanide-coral-reefs. Accessed 19 Aug. 2023.
[2] “End Bottom Trawling.” Project Seahorse, 3 May 2021, https://projectseahorse.org/limiting-fisheries/endbottomtrawling/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2023.
[3] “End Destructive Fishing » Marine Conservation Institute.” Marine Conservation Institute, 24 June 2020, https://marine-conservation.org/end-destructive-fishing/. Accessed 16 Aug. 2023.
[4] FishBase Glossary. https://fishbase.mnhn.fr/glossary/Glossary.php?q=recruitment+overfishing. Accessed 16 Aug. 2023.
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[7] How Many Species Live in the Ocean? https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ocean-species.html. Accessed 20 Aug. 2023.
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[12] “What Are Ghost Nets? The Silent Killers of Our Oceans.” Olive Ridley Project, 11 June 2014, https://oliveridleyproject.org/what-are-ghost-nets. Accessed 20 Aug. 2023.
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Figures:
[1] Wikipedia contributors. (2016, March 21). File:Trawlers overfishing cod.jpg - Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Trawlers_overfishing_cod.jpg. Accessed on 10. Sep. 2023.
[2] What is Bottom Trawling. (n.d.). MSC International - English. https://www.msc.org/what-we-are-doing/our-approach/fishing-methods-and-gear-types/demersal-or-bottom-trawls. Accessed on 10. Sep. 2023.
[3] Bale, R. (2021, May 3). The horrific way fish are caught for your Aquarium—With Cyanide. Animals. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/160310-aquarium-saltwater-tropical-fish-cyanide-coral-reefs. Accessed on 10. Sep. 2023.
[4] Wikimedia Commons. (2013, September 20). https://tinyurl.com/3fetbbmw. Accessed on 10. Sep. 2023.
[5] Ghost fishing. (n.d.). Australian Maritime Safety Authority. https://www.amsa.gov.au/news-community/news-and-media-releases/ghost-fishing. Accessed on 10. Sep. 2023.
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