The Overfishing Of Our Oceans - 1365 Words

Overfishing The ocean makes up nearly three-quarters of the planet s surface and contains about eighty percent of the life on earth. Millions of people all over the world depend on seafood heavily as a primary source of food. Americans alone consumed as much as 15.8 pounds of seafood per person in 2009 (NOAA). This is a lot of fish. In fact, it is so much that many populations of fish are going extinct. At this particular rate according to National Geographic, scientist predict that the earth is expected to lose all of its current fisheries by the year 2048 (Roach). The overfishing of our oceans leads to unmanageable practices that will eventually cause many species of fish to become extinct. According to National Geographic, overfishing dates back to the 1800s when humans killed off massive amounts of whale population to retrieve blubber for lamp oil (Roach). Similarly, Atlantic cod, herring, and California s sardines, were also fished to the brink of extinction by the mid-1900s. Theses cases were extremely harmful to the ecosystems food chain. To counter these losses, the United States passed the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (NOAA). This law made it illegal for foreign countries to fish within 200 nautical miles of the United States shoreline. This would make it easier to manage illegal fishing. Congress also established eight regional councils with representation from the coastal states and fishery stakeholders. Their jobs were to come upShow MoreRelatedOverfishing: One of the Major Problems that We Face in our Oceans Today2429 Words   |  10 Pages1. The increase in catch by fisherman due to better technology and more fisherman has led to overfishing, which greatly reduces the populations the worlds fish. We know 31.7 percent of the worlds fish stocks and of the fish populations that are known 30.6 percent are experiencing overfishing or are already overfished. 2. Ocean fisheries increased their global wild fish catch by 500 percent between the years 1950 and 1997. In 2000, fisheries met their highest amount of fish caught, peaking atRead MoreOverfished Oceans868 Words   |  4 PagesHow Can Overfishing of Our Oceans Be Prevented? Oceans cover much of the world. They contain many fish that are the primary diets for many nations. The ocean ecosystem is vital to all life. For a long time, it was believed that there was no end to the amount of fish in the ocean. It was thought there was endless supply. That belief has changed and our oceans are being overfished to the point that some fish species have collapsed and many more are in danger. Overfishing is not just endangeringRead MoreOverfishing Is A Global Issue1691 Words   |  7 PagesOverfishing began in the early 1800’s when it was discovered that whale blubber could be utilized for oil lamps. Overfishing is when fish are taken from the ocean at a rate that is too fast for them to adequately repopulate. In contrast to every damaging anthropogenic activity, overfishing has taken the biggest toll on the marine ecosystems and has led many fish species to reduce rapidly and others to become extinct. In order to stop this before it is too late, we m ust enforce sustainable methodsRead MoreOverfishing Essay1099 Words   |  5 PagesOverfishing is a huge issue around the world. Overfishing occurs when more fish are caught than the amount they can reproduce. This overfishing problem is a huge decline in population of fish. Due to overfishing the animals at the top of the ocean food chain such as Sharks will have no food to eat. Overfishing is a major problem for the ecosystem of the ocean. Overfishing affects the ocean ecosystem in many negative ways. Fishermen can target the fish at the top of the food chain or the bottomRead MoreOverfishing Is A Serious Problem1260 Words   |  6 PagesOverfishing is a serious problem that often gets overlooked. In the article by Udy Bell, called â€Å"Overfishing: A Threat to Marine Biology,† Bell talks about how only 1 percent of the world’s oceans are marine protected areas (MPAs). MPAs not only help protect oceans by allowing habitats to recover from damage caused by overfishing but also allow fish to safely reproduce. Due to fishing fish faster then they can reproduce, many species of fish are going endangered or already endangered of being extinctRead MoreThe Environmental Balance Of Ocean Overfishing1731 Words   |  7 Pagesbeen dependent on the ocean and water resources for food and survival. While hundreds of years of single handed fishing rods in coastal and inland water channels have not alone been the r oot cause of overfishing, these common practices today still impact the environmental balance. Ocean overfishing is the removal or taking of wildlife from the oceans and seas at rates too high for fished species to replace themselves and is a threat that exists to our way of life. Overfishing can occur by commercialRead MoreUnc Wilmington s Location Is The Presence Of Pollution1066 Words   |  5 Pages Of all the things our school is most popular and known for, UNC-Wilmington’s location is certainly one of the most pronounced. Students, faculty, and community members get the privilege of enjoying the beautiful beaches here in Wilmington. Only a short car ride away from the beach, students are constantly taking the time to visit the beloved Wrightsville to surf, relax, or just to enjoy a sunset. However, the beaches and oceans that everyone claims to love so much, are suffering now more than everRead MoreEffects Of Overfishing1133 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction The main causes of overfishing are poor fishery management with a lack of regulation, unrestricted access to the ocean and illegal fishing. During the last few decades the demand for edible seafood globally has skyrocketed and the high demand is causing us to overfish to keep up with the demand. Unfortunately, fisherman are catching more fish than can be naturally reproduced. There are only limited regulations in place, which means that fishing companies are basically fishing when andRead MoreEssay on The Importance of the Ocean1253 Words   |  6 PagesHow important is the ocean? Plants that grow in the ocean produce half the oxygen all of the world’s population needs to survive (The Nature Conservancy, 2014). The Carbon dioxide the body releases is also absorbed by the ocean’s waters (The Nature Conservancy, 2014). Medicine that is used to fight cancer and cure disease is formulated from ingredients from the ocean (The Nature Conservancy, 2014). Not only does the oce an keep the people of the world healthy but it accounts for 128 billion dollarsRead MoreEssay on Effects Of Overfishing Atlantic Cod on East Coast Ecosystems603 Words   |  3 PagesOverfishing is a global issue that has many negative effects on the environment (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2009). Fish are a major resource that many people rely on for not only nutrition, but also for a means of income (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2009). As the population of the world increases, so does the demand for fish, which puts oceans under a lot of pressure (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2009). Due to advanced fishing technologies and equipment, going out further into the oceans and catching