Topic 4 Case Studies

Mismanagement of a Water Source - Aral Sea

- Water level drop primarily due to large-scale irrigation projects initiated by Soviet Union in the 1960s to boost cotton production.
- Lost about 90% of its volume, splitting into smaller bodies of water.
- Local ecosystem collapsed, decimating the fishing industry and increasing water salinity.
- Exposed toxic seabed dust caused respiratory problems.
- Loss of fishing and degraded agricultural lands led to economic hardship.
- Construction of the Kok-Aral Dam in 2005 has helped raise water levels

Unsustainable Fishing - Newfoundland Fisheries Collapse

- Canada’s eastern coast, early 1990s
- Resulted from overfishing, primarily of cod, which led to the depletion of fish stocks
- Devastated the local fishing industry, leading to massive job losses and economic hardship for communities dependent on fishing.
- Caused unemployment and forced many to migrate in search of work, disrupting traditional ways of life.
- Disrupted marine ecosystems, leading to decline of cod and other species, and altering the balance of oceanic food web.

Sustainable Fishing – Iceland Fisheries

- 1980s, to protect its vital fishing industry.
- Key species = cod, haddock, and herring.
- Employs a quota system, rigorously enforcing catch limits based on scientific assessments of fish stock health.
- Sustainable fishing gear and methods are promoted to minimize bycatch and reduce damage to marine habitats.
- Satellite tracking & electronic monitoring systems, which helps tracking fish catches & preventing overfishing.

Harvesting a controversial species – The Grind

- Traditional whale hunting practice in Faroe Islands.
- Occurs annually, typically during summer.
- Species hunted = long-finned pilot whales
- During the Grind, whales are driven into shallow bays where they are killed for their meat and blubber.
- Arguments for The Grind include:
- Cultural tradition in Faroe Islands.
- Hunts are regulated & sustainable, ensuring whale populations are not threatened.
- Whale meat & blubber provide source of food, reducing reliance on imported goods.
- Entire whale is utilized, minimizing waste.

- Arguments against The Grind:
- Hunting process viewed as inhumane
- Concern of potential depletion of whale population.
- Graphic images & videos of hunts have led to widespread condemnation & negative perceptions.
- Whale meat can contain high levels of mercury, posing health risks.
- Ethical implications of hunting intelligent and social marine mammals are heavily criticized.

Aquaculture – Pacific Salmon Farming

- British Columbia (Pacific water)
- Net cage aquaculture
- grown significantly since 1980s to meet increasing global demand for salmon
- Arguments for:
- reduces pressure on wild fish populations
- provides a reliable, controlled source of seafood
- supports local economies by creating jobs
- farmed salmon reduces the bycatch
- Ecological impacts:
- can transmit diseases & parasites, weaken wild stocks
- can interbreed with wild salmon, weakening the genetic fitness & resilience of wild
- can alter local ecosystems
- reliance on wild-caught fish to produce feed for farmed salmon can deplete stocks of small pelagic fish

Water Conflict - Israel & Palestine

- Israel deliberately denies Palestine’s control over their water sources & sets the ground for water domination
- In 1967, Israel took over the West Bank
- As a result, thousands of Palestinians are unable to access sufficient water supplies & became dependant on Israel
- No access to river Jordan
- Israel was granted access to over 71% of the aquifer, whilst Palestinians were only granted 17%.