MARINE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT |
| Overharvesting of certain species is occurring at an alarming rate. Yet, unlike with domesticated animals which are bred for consumption, these species are not being replenished. With the fishing techniques we have available to us now, the fish have little chance of evading capture. We have sophisticated electronic equipment which can find fish that previously could avoid us. In addition, we have a multitude of nets and other means of catching the animals that are so widespread and omnipresent there is nowhere for the fish to hide. | As a consequence, fish catches are
decreasing dramatically. Yet, when the number of fish being caught declines, the
fishing industry sends out more ships so that they can continue to catch the
total quantity of fish they have caught in the past. With every country in the world employing the same attitude, it is easy to see why fish populations are in danger. Some fish species populations have been so deple- ted that scientists warn it could be 2015 before these species could be restored, and this would only occur if all fishing ceased immediately. It is this type of shortsightedness that has caused many of the environmental problems we are encountering today. |
| Marine fish management is a much more complicated issue than freshwater fish management. The majority of fish species caught for human consumption is caught near the ocean shore on the continental shelf. Yet, there is also fishing in the open ocean where all countries have access to the resources. Therefore, it is a global issue and much more difficult to control. |
|
Bycatch is a word coined to describe the species of organisms accidentally caught while fishermen are looking for a different species. This includes birds, mammals, and dolphins. Bycatch usually occurs because the methods used for harvesting fish are so all-encompassing that they capture all organisms in a specific area and do not target a specific species. Every organism has its niche in its environment.When one of these pegs is removed, the entire ecosystem can (and often is) negatively affected. |
| Discard is a term used to refer to any bycatch that is thrown back because it is the wrong size, is of inferior quality, or is an endangered species. Many times it is possible to sell some of this bycatch to seafood markets. However, if the bycatch species are less valuable than the species being sought, there is little incentive for the fishermen to retain them. |
| Estimates of bycatch are as high as 27 million metric tons annually, which is over one-third the weight of the total worldwide catch. Many bycatch species are killed through rough treatment, either by the nets themselves or by the fishermen as the organisms are removed from the nets. If the animals are not killed outright, they are severely injured or stressed. When they are returned to the water, they become easy prey for waiting predators. The most distressing point in this scenario is that in many cases the bycatch far exceeds the weight and quantity of the catch of the desired species. In this way many organisms are simply wasted through our own selfish acts. |
 |
GILL NETS Gill nets are nets which are up to three miles long. They are placed at right angles to the tide with floats on the top and weights on the bottom, effectively making them impassable walls for organisms. Any species trying to pass through becomes entangled in the net and dies. |
Trawl nets are drawn through the water to catch fish. While
they may be used in midwater, they are most often dragged across the bottom to capture
organisms like shrimp. With this process many organisms and habitats are destroyed.
LONGLINES Longlines are baited hooks on side leaders of a single
main line. |
 |
 |
Purse seines are nets which can catch large quantities of fish at once. They are placed in a circle around a school of fish. The bottom has a type of drawstring mechanism which can be closed to cut off the route of escape for the fish. Any organisms within the area of the net will be caught. There was a huge public outcry in recent years over the killing of dolphinsby tuna fishermen with their purse seines. Due to this protest, this industry has had to find ways to assure that the dolphins are unharmed by their fishing practices. |
PASSIVE METHODS
| There are passive methods of harvesting fish. These
include setting traps for specific species in areas where they are likely to be encountered. These traps may be anchored on the bottom or be floating. They are usually marked with small surface buoys to warn boaters of their presence. These devices do not yield the high quantities of organisms which are possible with other forms of fishing. Therefore, they are not widely used – especially in the commercial fishing industry. |
COOPERATION
| Management of marine organisms for sustainable use is a difficult task. The problems discussed here cannot be resolved by one person or group of people. It will take cooperation between many different industries as well as between all the countries of the world to reverse the trend we have initiated. The damage we have caused has affected entire ecosystems. Therefore, there has to be a wide-scale approach to correction. |
Governments must take the lead in enacting legislation to
control the fishing industry. Economic incentives must be offered to the fishing community
to encourage them to participate, and penalties must be enforced for those who break
the law. Businesses must be less concerned about today’s profit and
more concerned about sustainable product sales and profit in the future. The public
must become involved on behalf of the species which are being destroyed needlessly. In
addition, we must make wise purchasing decisions about the food which we consume. If
we know an organism is caught in such a way as to be
destructive to an ecosystem, we cannot simply ignore that fact and continue to buy the
product simply because we like it. Consumer protest is one of the most efficient
means of prompting action on the part of companies.
| Because there has been such enormous habit destruction, there must be funds made available to rebuild these areas. Unless this is done, the downward spiral will continue. Once these areas have been restored, it is our job to assure that they remain healthy for future generations. |