Fisheries

Fisheries

  • The marine environment is referred to as the last frontier on the planet.

  • Many scientists argue that marine fish are being harvested at a rate that exceeds their production rate.

  • Precautionary Principle: In the presence of threats of serious or irreversible damage, the lack of scientific certainty should not justify inaction.

Terms

Fishing Locations

  • Inland Fisheries: Lakes, rivers, ponds.

  • Marine Fisheries: Coastal and open ocean settings; areas with higher salt concentrations.

Sources of Fish

  • Capture: Involves various fishing methods such as nets, lines, hooks, and traps.

    • The act of capturing fish is referred to as a "landing."

  • Aquaculture: Controlled cultivation of aquatic organisms (fish, crustaceans, etc.), also known as aqua farming or fish farming.

By-catch

  • Defined as the total fishing mortality excluding the retained catch of target species; refers to fish that are not kept but typically thrown overboard.

  • By-catch accounts for about 30% of global landings.

  • Seagulls and dolphins often follow fishing boats in search of discarded by-catch.

Trends in Fish Production

Capture and Aquaculture Growth

  • Global capture fishery production has increased from 111 million tons in the 1990s to approximately 178 million tons in 2020.

  • Per capita fish consumption was around 20.2 kg (~45 pounds) in 2020.

  • Fish account for about 20% of protein consumed globally.

  • Aquaculture supports the rising demand for fish-generated food.

Top Producers (2020)

  1. China

  2. Indonesia

  3. Peru

  4. India

  5. Russian Federation

  6. United States

  7. Viet Nam

  • These seven countries accounted for nearly 49% of global fish production.

Consumption and Market Dynamics

Fish Classification

  • Fish are categorized into high-value, intermediate-value, and low-value species based on marketability and end-uses.

    • High-value: Prepared and served as filets (e.g., tuna, cod).

    • Intermediate-value: Ground for human food (e.g., Pollock).

    • Low-value: Utilized in agriculture and aquaculture (e.g., mackerels).

Fish Renaming and Marketability

  • Some fish species received new names to enhance appeal:

    • Patagonian Toothfish renamed to Chilean Seabass.

    • Slimeheads renamed to Orange Roughy.

  • Misunderstanding of life cycles leads to over-harvesting, particularly in species like the Patagonian toothfish which has long lifespans and late reproduction.

Fisheries Statistics

  • Marine capture fisheries production includes top species like Anchoveta, Alaska Pollock, and Blue Whiting.

  • Principal fishing areas with significant production include the Northwest Pacific, Southeast Pacific, and Northeast Atlantic.

Cod Fishery

  • Cod has played an important historical role in the economy and exploration of countries like Spain and Canada.

  • Intense fishing in the North Atlantic led to a dramatic decline in cod populations, culminating in the fishery's closure in 1992.

Consequences of Overfishing

  • Species replacement occurs when overfished species are supplanted by others, demonstrating dynamic ecological balances.

  • Example: Cod in Newfoundland replaced by shellfish.

  • Over-harvested species like shrimp are outcompeted by the cannonball jellyfish.

The By-catch Dilemma

  • By-catch represents around 30% of total landings and includes species like dolphins, sea turtles, and seabirds which are often discarded.

  • Tools like Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) and Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRD) aim to minimize by-catch loss while maintaining target fish catches.

Laws and Regulations

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

  • Extends national waters to 200 miles, creating Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) for managing resources.

  • The US has not ratified UNCLOS entirely.

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

  • Regulates whaling internationally, placing a moratorium on whaling since 1985, with exceptions for certain countries.

Magnuson Act

  • Enacted in 1976, establishing a 200-mile limit for US fisheries as Federal Law.

  • Further amendments include regulations for rebuilding fisheries and forming management councils.

Sustainable Fishing Practices

  • Sustainable fish harvesting practices include:

    • Reducing habitat damage.

    • Minimizing by-catch.

    • Understanding population dynamics of species.

    • Consuming sustainably harvested fish as promoted by organizations like the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.