Protecting Our Waters: A Universal Plan

Written by: Kelly L. Hunter

Over fishing our waters is causing a great deal of concern amongst environmentalist and commercial fishermen. According to the Declining Fish Stock video, the average commercial fishermen’s catch is about 20,000 pounds. This has been estimated to equal a couple hundred fish per day per vessel (Declining Fish, 2007). Some studies indicate that commercial fishing fleets have stripped the ocean waters of at least 90 percent of its big fish (Declining Fish, 2007). This has begun to cause heavy competition between commercial fishermen who are left competing for the other 10 percent of the remaining fish population (Declining Fish, 2007).
Studies indicate that our oceans are not as resilient as we had once believed (Declining Fish, 2007). According to Dr. Jeremy Jackson of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, we will never again be able to fish our waters at the level that we have been over the last half century (Declining Fish, 2007). Dr. Jackson also states that over fishing is more destructive to the ocean waters than toxic pollution or degrading water quality (Declining Fish, 2007). This is a frightening thought and seems to have environmentalists and commercial fishermen at each other’s throats.
When asked if the damage to the fish population is at a level of completion, Dr. Jackson said that the damage was near completion but that the damage could be reversed if we take much needed drastic measures to ensure that these fish have a chance to repopulate (Declining Fish, 2007). Dr. Jackson also feels that we need to change the way that we use our ocean waters and find a better way to utilize its resources. Dr. Jackson goes on to say that because we have over fished our waters and caused such depletion in most if not all of the species of fish, we need to protect nearly half of the ocean’s waters and prohibit any type of fishing in those restricted waters (Declining Fish, 2007). This kind of restriction would allow for big fish to repopulate and replenish themselves.
Many commercial fishermen do not agree with these studies and say that they are catching just as many fish daily as they have for years. One fisherman, Pete Dupuis, says that these restrictions will hurt commercial fishermen the most (Declining Fish, 2007). Dupuis also believes that water restrictions will not solve this problem and hopes that commercial fishermen and environmentalists can come to some sort of agreement (Declining Fish, 2007). Many commercial fishermen rely completely on this industry for survival and in many cases; it is the only thing that these people know how to do. So what can we do as a community and as a world to ensure that we do not destroy our fish populations or our waters and still be able to maintain this industry that six billion of us rely on for part of our survival?
What we do know is that the damage has been caused; and the question is, what are we going to do to fix it? It is possible that we need to restrict some of our waters from commercial and personal fishing. More studies need to be conducted and are necessary to find out exactly which parts of our oceans have the largest amounts of fish population decline. Those are the areas that should be closely monitored and protected. On the other hand, I understand and feel for the commercial fishermen who rely on this industry for their own survival.
Fish has been said to be a beneficial source of protein and Omega 3 in human diets. However, not everyone eats fish; therefore, it does not seem to be essential to our survival that we consume fish. For individuals who do enjoy eating fish, maybe it is possible that they could consume less. There are many other foods that can provide enough protein for our survival. Manufacturers of vitamins offer Omega 3 tablets; this is a wonderful way to supplement our daily diets.
As for the commercial fishermen and their means of economic survival, maybe it is possible to fish for smaller fish or fish that are not as endangered. There does not seem to be an easy solution to this problem. On one side you have the people who want to protect our planet from extinction and on the other hand, you have the people that solely rely on this industry to feed their families and pay their bills.
We have many aquariums and zoos across the United States and throughout our world. It is possible that we could take those fish and put them back into our waters where they could live amongst their natural habitat. On the other hand, we could use these facilities and other marine laboratories for breeding and release the offspring back into our ocean waters. However, even this is a small solution for a large scale problem.
Commercial fishing has not only depleted the population of many species of fish; it has caused other problems within our waters as well. According to R. Chuenpagdee, “The potential impacts of fishing go well beyond the targeted fish and often include other non-target animals as well as marine habitats, such as coral reefs and seagrass beds” (Chuenpagdee, 2003). In another article, J.B.C. Jackson states that “the cumulative effect of these impacts is according to some scientists, the leading cause of current changes in the structure and functioning of coastal and marine ecosystems” (Jackson, 2001).
Maybe the answer isn’t that we prohibit fishing, but that we fish less and change the way that we fish. Maybe we need to find alternative methods to the ones that we are currently using and design better gears to use while fishing; gears that will not pose such dangerous hazards to non-targeted marine life and to our ecosystems. Doing such could create jobs and benefit our communities as well. It is essential for our future generations that we take this matter seriously and that we do something about it before it is too late.


Reference(s)


Chuenpagdee, R.; Morgan, L.E.; Maxwell, S.M.; Norse, E.A.; and Pauly, D. Shifting Gears: Assessing Collateral Impacts of Fishing Methods in the U.S. Waters. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10. (2003). P517-524.

Declining Fish Stock VLR. University of Phoenix. (2007).

Jackson, J.B.C.; Kirby, M.X.; Berger, W.H. Historical Overfishing and the Recent Collapse of Costal Ecosystems. Science 239. (2001). P629-638.