Managing fisheries sustainably: practices and challenges

Managing Fisheries and How Perceptions Affect the Management of Ecosystem Services Provided by Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean

Carl Safina is the host of the Public Broadcasting Service 'Saving the Ocean" and as well has written several books and at focus in this work is the book of Safina entitled "Song for the Blue Ocean." Safina emphasizes how the oceans are the last and dying unconquered territories on earth. Safina brings to the attention of the reader that threats that are caused to the oceans in the name of progress and growth for the human race.

Safina's Book

Safina's book reports a truth seeking mission as he traveled the world's oceans. Safina relates in his book that "the scientists grossly underestimate the numbers" of bluefin tuna in the northern Atlantic and relates that the "legendary great shoals of cod…along the Grand Banks of Canada…have been decimated, causing the government of Canada to spend the once vast cod fishing industry." (nd, p. 1) Safina also relates how the salmon on the Pacific coast are dying off reported as "victims of silted rivers, dams and overfishing." (nd, p. 1) IN addition it is related by Safina that sharks, and rays as well as swordfish and skates are greatly reduced in numbers in the deep waters of the Pacific ocean. Safina states that the farmers or fisherman cannot be held to blame in totality since "water transfers, ocean temperatures, toxic pollutants, timbering…" as well as other such environmental destroying activities of human beings are also to blame. Safina relates that in many nations in the Pacific that fish are caught by using cyanide poison which kills the fish and the coral reefs which are extremely fragile not to mention the harm caused to the ecosystem that is the most endangered in the entire world.

II. Different Views

There are naturally different views or perspectives of the oceans since some individuals, families and groups are highly dependent on the world's ocean for the livelihood and many of these are individuals who fish to earn pay to take care of their family. However, all too often, those who are in reality the most dependent on the world's ocean to survive are doing the most to destroy what they so depend upon. Safina presents facts in hi8s book that grasp the attention of the reader and in some cases that motivate the reader to ensure that others come to understand what is happening to the oceans of the world.

III. The Salmon

Safina relates in his book a story about the salmon and in the course of his story it is clear that Safina has a great fondness for the salmon and empathy for their plight at the hands of the human's and their activities and industries and the harm upon the environment the Salmon calls home. Safina relates how the female salmon has one purpose in life and that is to spawn. After having accomplished this purpose the female then simply dies.

Safina relates how salmon are first born in the rivers which are freshwater bodies but then some months or maybe years the salmon head toward the ocean traveling in some cases thousands of miles before they reach their destination. What once was a strength for the salmon, breeding in freshwater, is now a threat to them, because there is little in the way of food in the freshwater bodies due to the activities of human kind in expansion and industries.

IV. More than Two Sides to the Story

The statement that there are always two sides to every story does not encompass the many views and perspectives of those involved and affected by the activities of the fishing industries. While certainly conservationists and fisheries are at odds, Safina relates an example of other opposing views relating the Montauk Captains and Boatmen's association president, Joe McBride who has time and again requested the reduction in the number of young bluefin tuna that the Fisheries Services allows each boat to kill per day. However, in this case, McBride is not actually a conservationist but instead, he owns a fishing charter boat and he simply wants the fishing season to last until the migration of the fish for winter but since the limitation has not been put in place, the quota for the season is reached at the height of the season and then the fishing season abruptly ends as does his fishing charter income.