tOVERFISHING

Types, Causes, Consequences and Possible Solutions to Overfishing

Table of Content

Introduction3

Types of Overfishing4

1.Recruitment Overfishing4

2.Growth overfishing4

Causes of Depleting Fish Resources7

1.Technology7

2.Open access and over-capacity8

3.By-catch8

Consequences of Overfishing9

1.Environmental Consequences9

2.Economic Costs10

Actions & Solutions11

Conclusion12

References13

Types, Causes, Consequences and Possible Solutions to Overfishing

Introduction

Various negative impacts on marine ecosystems are caused by fishing activities. Seventy two percent of the world's fish stocks were being yielded before than they could reproduce in 2002. Extensive commercial fishing is rapidly depleting the fish population, and this is the greatest contemporary concern for environmentalists (FAO, 2009).

Many scientists believe that one of the greatest impacts of human activity on oceans is overfishing. The vulnerability of ocean ecosystems is increased as a result of overfishing. This may cause a decline of various species of marine mammals and birds. In the year 2000, hundred million tons was the record figure for total fisheries production.

A serious decline in many fish species is caused by this markedly excessive exploitation of the fish resources. An estimated one billion people belonging to the low-income countries are chiefly dependent on fish as their primary source of food, therefore, declining fisheries throughout the globe are a rising concern (Le Sann, 1998). Nearly sixteen percent of the animal protein consumed by humans is supplied by fish. From large-scale mechanized fishing vessels to subsistence fisherman, approximately two hundred million people are directly or indirectly employed by the fishing industry throughout the globe.

A large number of countries depend on fisheries as their primary source of economic development. Forty seven percent of the fish stocks worldwide are fully exploited, and eighteen percent of the global fish stock is overexploited according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (FAO, 2009). Shrinking harvests has pushed up the prices of most of the fish species, which is gradually turning fish into an unaffordable food source amongst the lower-income population segments.

Simply put, overfishing can be defined as the process of harvesting more fish from the population it can bear. However, various meanings of this word exist. Overfishing can be associated with a number of causes and consequences.

Types of Overfishing

Two kinds of overfishing are possible at a first level of approximation.

Recruitment Overfishing

When a species of fish is harvested in a way that their ability to reproduce themselves to their pre-harvest condition is compromised, this situation is defined as recruitment overfishing. Recruitment overfishing involves the harvesting of organisms before they are able to reproduce at all or destroying the brood stock directly. Reduced catches over time are a consequence of recruitment overfishing (Jennings et.al, 2001). If extensively carried out, recruitment fishing can result in abundance crashes. Though any crashes in abundance are veiled by several years of delay, however, a population hole continues to exist after the period of harvesting as a direct consequence of recruitment overfishing.

Growth overfishing

The process of taking of fish prior to them achieving the value or size determined to be optimal is known as growth overfishing. Primarily, growth overfishing is an economic issue. Ecology of fisheries is not affected by growth overfishing in ...