Overfishing Ever Since the Industrial

Overfishing

Ever since the Industrial Revolution, human population has increased tremendously. This population increase has been the cause of a rising use and exploitation of a lot of natural resources found in the world. In a similar manner, the overuse of natural resources is reflected in the requirement for fish and fish products (Beckham 1228). The fisheries industry is corresponding to agricultural industry and has gone through a process of progression "from a small-scale, subsistence operation to a highly mechanized, ultra-efficient means of securing huge quantities of fish and shellfish to satisfy the burgeoning market demand" (Beckham 1228). The industrialization of fisheries business has made it convenient for the fishermen to perform their offshore works in an easy manner. Moreover, with the provision of more well-organized refrigeration facilities, it has now become possible for the modern fishermen to go on longer sea excursions (Beckham 1228).

Overfishing, an intrinsic biological concept, is said to take place "when the stock (biomass) of a fish species has been subjected to a rate or level of fishing mortality (usually from commercial fishing) that has reduced it below its capacity to maintain an established fishing (harvest) yield" ("Overfishing" 91). In the contemporary world of today, the excessive exploitation i.e. overfishing of the fisheries all over the world has raised a number of concerns recently. Despite the fact that there has been an increase in the worldwide production of fish and fishery products, the last several decades have shown a remarkable stagnation of the harvest from detained fisheries. In the present day, there is a crystal clear decline in lots of fish supplies and species since their past highest points. A number of fish stocks have even gone through a collapse that has consequently led to insistent calls for more strict supervision and the need for confined regions' establishment. The recent crisis associated with fisheries has impending consequences for marine biodiversity (Allan, Abell, Hogan, Revenga, Taylor, Welcomme & Winemiller 1).

Fishing and all the associated activities that include dealing out, collection and packing, transportation, trade etc. are imperative at all scales whether it is conducted in rural areas or domestic and international levels. In a majority of developing nations, people practice fishing as it is the most important source of livelihoods. Fishing is mainly the occupation of rural families especially of those whose income levels are really low. Fishing is also a main source of livelihood in areas where there are not enough job opportunities. When people are unable to find well-paid and beneficial labor opportunities, they turn to small-scale commercial and subsistence fishing as the last option (Allan, Abell, Hogan, Revenga, Taylor, Welcomme & Winemiller 1).

Fisheries have a remarkable contribution in the food supplies at the global level. More or less one billion people (belonging to poor rural communities in developing countries) are dependent on fish as their chief source of animal protein (Allan, Abell, Hogan, Revenga, Taylor, Welcomme & Winemiller 1). Due to this as a major reason, the fisheries worldwide are experiencing a doom. The severe struggle and contest for meeting the increasing demands of seafood worldwide has caused a menace of overfishing and Coastal devastation which is threatening the occupations and incomes of fishermen the world over. The demand for seafood in increasing day by day which is consequently leading to the reduction/exhaustion of species and fisheries as well as the disorder of frail bionetworks. Regardless of the fact that billions of dollars have been dedicated by the bank and the governments of developing countries for building boats and developing ports, irregular outputs, overfishing and disorder of food chains at the bottom of the sea have instead added to the unbalanced economies and environments. Moreover, nations are conflicting over the possession of prime fishing waters. The United States of America have used up millions of dollars to reeducate fishermen and purchase back boats as a solution to put a stop to the devastation of their coastal waters (McQuaid).

This issue is of international importance as a danger to biodiversity Overfishing is done on two scales. In the first kind of overfishing, a species is targeted and severely fished leading to striking "declines in catch per unit effort and size of individuals captured" (Allan, Abell, Hogan, Revenga, Taylor, Welcomme & Winemiller). This type of overfishing is the major reason for the decline of several fish species before the dams' construction, transformations of habitats and pollution contributed in the same. The second kind of overfishing, commonly known as assemblage or ecosystem overfishing, is one in which "catches proceed beyond the asymptotic maximum of a plateau-type curve or decline below the asymptotic or plateau level" (Allan, Abell, Hogan, Revenga, Taylor, Welcomme & Winemiller). Due to assemblage overfishing, whole communities of fisheries start to disappear that leads to a loss of entire species community structure. For example, in a number of African foods, small fish are preferred. Similarly, Asian cuisines use fish pastas and sauces. These preferences have encouraged the collection of exceptionally small fish types, allowing the depletion of entire assemblage in that way (Allan, Abell, Hogan, Revenga, Taylor, Welcomme & Winemiller).

To cut a long story short, one of the major fallouts of overfishing is the elimination of a significant fraction of a species' masses which results in the survival of a very small number of individuals that can reproduce and re-establish the population back to the previous level. Thus, overfishing has a remarkable harmful impact on species that are not even targeted by the fishermen. The dilemma is that more or less half (and in some cases, about ninety percent) of the catch is discarded. Such a situation is adverse enough due to which environment is affected tremendously as ratios of predators-preys are altered. This dumping activity also contributes in the addition of surplus organic waste as approximately 30 million tons of lifeless or dying fish are thrown back in the water on an annual basis. Overfishing also negatively affects the populations of diving seabird, turtles and dolphins as these unlucky animals frequently become the victims of the traps and nets and get killed in the process. For example, according to facts and figures, Japanese tuna fishermen kill about 44,000 albatrosses annually (Eugene).

In the previous times, there were no regulations on continental offshore waters and the coastal waters. For that reason, overfishing of a number of species that were really important commercially occurred. Time and again, fishermen go in waters with the intention of catching as many fish as possible in the quickest ways. They are so adamant to fish believing that if any fish is uncaught, it will be left in the water and will become the part of the income of someone else. One of the best examples of overfishing is that of the codfish (Gadus species). This was a booming fishery industry of the Atlantic coast of Canada and the U.S.A. For hundreds of years. However, with the introduction of factory trawler (a new-fangled incredibly mechanized fishing vessel) in 1954, the cod population went through alterations in their condition. The normal cod catch in the region exceeded by more than 500,000 tons in 1968 as "810,000 tons of cod were taken off Labrador and the Grand Banks off Newfoundland" (Eugene). In the 1970s, the decline of cod population reached to 94%. American shad (Alosa sapidissima), also known as poor man's salmon, is another example of fish population whose number declined because of overfishing. The Native Americans were the major harvesters of the shad fishery and it was the species which had the most commercial value during eighteenth century. However, the menace of overfishing, together with pollution increase and construction of dams, the population declined to less than two million pounds annually in the nineteenth century though it had a production of 18 million pounds previously (Eugene).

Unfortunately, the extent of the overfishing problem is not considered much. This is because the world is already struggling to overcome the environmental problems of "deforestation, desertification, energy resource exploitation and other biodiversity depletion dilemmas" (Nuttall). It is also important to mention here that the fish prices are increasing rapidly owing to the increase in the requirement of fish and related products. Consequently, the investment opportunities in fisheries industry have attracted both industrialists and governments. However, this investing opportunity is a disadvantageous matter for the global small-scale fishing and communities that are dependent on fishing for their livelihoods. Marketable cod, hake, haddock and flounder populations in the north Atlantic regions have suffered a ninety0five percent loss and this situation requires prompt measures to be taken. According to marine biologists, the situations can only be overcome by applying the policy of zero catches so that stocks of the mentioned fish populations may be reproduced. However, such recommendations are not welcomed by the fishing industry (Nuttall).

There is a need to emphasize on the importance of the reproduction and restoration of the fisheries that have been depleted due to overfishing practices. This can be done only with the mutual collaboration by and between local and international authorities, fishermen, people and industrial sectors. The requirement of sustainable fishing practicing was is now more than ever. There is a need for the endorsement of instruments and approval of programs due to which maritime safety can be promoted. Governments and communities must step forward and work for the protection of environment, reduction of marine pollution and getting rid of environmental damage that is caused by water vessels, both big and small. The rate of the world's fisheries depletion can be compensated only with the application of a bilateral approach (Nuttall).

Overfishing is escalating day by day as fishermen are catching fish and other valuable marine species at a rate that is faster than their reproduction rate. The ever-increasing global demand for seafood along with the meager management of fishing industry and invention of more efficient fishing tools and techniques need immediate measures. If these problems are not given their due importance and attention, the marine ecosystem will be destroyed and the global food security be jeopardized as billions of people consume fish as the only protein source. Due to the use of modern fishing vessels, the most valuable of marine species have started to disappear. Therefore, it is the high time to have a drastic reduction in catches otherwise almost evry species surviving under the water will soon extinct ("Strong Measures Must Be Taken Soon to Prevent Overfishing in Our Oceans").

The coming years are really important as far as fishing industry and its problems are concerned. And there is a lot to be done to overcome the negative impacts it is causing on a global scale. There is still a possibility of reversal of damages caused by overfishing if there is an implementation of strong measures on an international level. The things needed to be done are quite simple for the prevention of overfishing. Firstly, determination of scientific limits of fish catch must be established for single species and the enforcement of those limits must be guaranteed. Secondly, there is a need to modify the fishing techniques that are responsible for most by-catch so that there can be less damage. Another option is to make by-catch unlawful. Thirdly, protection of major ecosystem sections like must be ensured ("Strong Measures Must Be Taken Soon to Prevent Overfishing in Our Oceans").

Moreover, it is also exceedingly important to pressurize the governments, industrialists and those having authority to limit fishing grants and funding that are worth billions of dollars. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) must be established and extended. These are oceanic regions where protection is provided to the natural resources or there is a restriction or ban on fishing. At the present moment, there is only one percent MPAs in the oceans. There is a dire need to increase this number if overfishing damages are to be reversed and corrected ("Strong Measures Must Be Taken Soon to Prevent Overfishing in Our Oceans"). Therefore, protected areas that do not allow fishing must be created as an immediate solution of overfishing. This is because such areas can prove as highly effective in the restoration, organization and maintenance of marine ecosystems (Williams, 809).