Addressing the global crisis of overfishing through community action

Environmental Science

Overfishing

Fish were once a healthy and reliable source of protein for communities living by the sea. However, the increase in the overall population of the world combined with the popularity of certain species of fish for consumption in the developed world has lead to a devastating problem: overfishing. Simply put, "overfishing means catching fish faster than they can reproduce" (Monterey Bay Aquarium, 2008). Without addressing the problem of overfishing, future generations will not be able to enjoy the nutritional bounty of the sea, fishermen will face the loss of their livelihoods, and the delicate balance of the ecosystem of the ocean will be destroyed, as entire species are eliminated. Today, "almost 80% of the world's fisheries are fully- to over-exploited, depleted, or in a state of collapse" (Koster, 2007, Chapter 3)

Action Plan

Action Item 1: Research and identify the effects of overfishing.

Action Step 1: Go onto websites such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium site. Identify what fish are endangered and which are recommended for consumption because they are not endangered. Learn more about the problem of overfishing. Find human examples of how people have been harmed by its effects. Look at local restaurants, supermarkets, and fishmongers to see what they offer, and make a list of which establishments sell sustainable fish, and which sell endangered fish like Chilean Sea Bass.

Month 1)

Action Item 2: Educate the public

Action Step 2: Create educational literature, such as a brochure listing species of fish that can be consumed without harming the environment. Make the brochure interesting and informative. Include recipes for sustainable species of fish. Advertise restaurants that serve these species. Also include examples of how overfishing hurts fishermen and ultimately all of us, because of the way it hurts the local economy and our health due to the harm done to the ecosystem of the ocean.

Months 2-3)

Any opposing views of the issue

Of course, some fisherman may protest that they need to make a living now and protest limits on fishing endangered fish species. Restaurateurs may protest they are just giving the customer what he or she desires. But they must remember the analogy of the 'dust bowl' in America -- exploit the earth now, but pay the price with a barren ocean in the future.

Other water or land resource problems that might result from your issue

Locally, people dependant upon the tourist industry in fishing communities, where fish restaurants are an important part of the economy may suffer. But besides the damage to the ecosystem that can result from overfishing, many people are dependent upon fish for sustenance all over the globe. Damage to the ocean and to the supply of food derived from the ocean harms all of humanity as well as the sea and environmental damage never affects a single nation or community, but has a spill-over effect.

Any challenges, limitations, or implications of your plan

Stopping overfishing for a short period of time is not a panacea -- people are more willing to adopt short-term changes to their diet and unlimited supply of food, but to remedy the legacy of overfishing takes time. "When fish stocks decline and fisheries become commercially unviable the damaged stock gets some rest and generally struggles along on a pathetic level compared to its pre-fishing level, but doesn't go biologically extinct. A damaged system is struggling and shifting, but can still be active (e.g. filled with jellyfish instead of cod)" but the imbalance of species created by the period overfishing may be permanent (Koster, 2007, Chapter 3). This is simply a reason to stop overfishing now, rather than to throw up one's hands in despair, however.

How your plan affects the community

Overfishing is not just about feeding people, or saving wildlife. It is also about preserving a way of life. One chilling example of what can occur if a single species of fish is allowed to be exploited is found in Newfoundland, Canada during the 1990s. For years, fishing of cod was allowed to continue without any controls. Almost 40,000 people involved in the cod fishing industry lost their livelihoods because of the sudden disappearance of cod from the waters. The stock could no longer replenish itself, and the fishing community of Newfoundland has never been the same. Cod is a popular fish, and it was assumed that the ocean's bounty would continue indefinitely, but that was not the case (Koster, 2007, Chapter 3)