Research Paper On Overfishing

One of the distinct features of any common resource is that it is a “non-excludable good1”, meaning no one can be prevented from using what is available. As discussed, the consequence of this scenario is that it will produce a socially inefficient outcome. There are differing theories on how to achieve an economically feasible marginal cost and marginal social benefit equilibrium. The difficulty, of course, is to determine what the socially optimal supply level for Bluefin Tuna should be in relation to fish stock restoration and future sustainability as well as empowering the global community to act in unison. The discussion here

Overfishing is a death sentence to the world’s oceans. As technology continues to improve a great deal of fish can be caught quicker; but at what cost? The effects of overfishing can lead to the extinction of not just the animals being fished, but also the predators that rely on fish to eat. Ninety percent of the ocean’s largest animals have been wiped out due to overfishing (“Overfishing- A Global Disaster”, 2011). National Geographic cites the academic journal Science (2006) that predicts by 2048, all fisheries will collapse due to lack of ocean wildlife. Fish are not the only animal caught in the nets used by fishing vessels. Often animals such as dolphins, sharks, turtles, and seabirds are

The earliest accounts of overfishing occurred in the 1800s, when the demand of whale blubber nearly wiped out the whale populations. In the mid 1900s, the harvesting of Atlantic cod, herring, and California sardines drove them to the brink of extinction. These high disruptions cause regional depletions of animal resources which is starting to cause a global problem. There has never been a more urgent time for fishing nations to make a commitment towards the sustainability of our oceans. More than 80% of the world’s fisheries have been, or are being pushed beyond their limits and are in dire need of strict management plans. Populations of fish and elasmobranch fish such as tuna, grouper and sharks have been declining to the point where the survival

The allusive bluefin tuna is one of the largest, fastest and highly sought after fish in the wild sea. The Bluefin tuna can weigh over half a ton, grow to over four metres in length, and dive to depths of 1,000 metres. They can reach speeds of 70 miles an hour and even raise their body temperature far above that of the surrounding water in order to traverse arctic waters. They are among the most ambitiously migratory of all fish, with some tagged bluefin being tracked swimming from North American to European waters several times a year. The bluefin tuna is unique, a perfectly adapted products of evolution. They are also dangerously close to becoming extinct (Brown). Today, the bluefin tuna has been fished out by 97 percent from pre-fishing

Black sea bass is an important recreational and commercial species along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. The market for black sea bass is for human consumption and is primarily sold fresh or frozen. In May of this year, NOAA scientists declared the southern stock of black sea bass successfully rebuilt. The catch limit for this popular fish will more than double this fall. The rebuilding plan was required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which requires that overfishing end immediately, that overfished stocks be rebuilt, and that stocks be subject to annual catch limits. The fish are also larger on average and are showing up in places where they haven’t

On 2nd of July, 1992, the Canadian government imposed a moratorium on the Northern cod fishery along the country's east coast.

Overfishing 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 huge amounts of fish is easier than ever (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2009). Froese (2004) defines overfishing as capturing the fish before they reach their full growth potential and diminishing their chance of reproduction. In other

Bycatch is defined by Webster’s dictionary as: “the unwanted fish and other marine creatures caught during commercial fishing for a different species”. Bycatch is one of the most threatening facets of overfishing. It is responsible for removing vast numbers of aquatic life from the ocean, aside from the target species. Another stimulating characteristic found in Myers’ “Rapid Depletion” that is not present in Allan’s “Overfishing” is a solution to current crisis we face. While Allan’s article does a sound job of relaying the message of how important the issue itself is, Myers’ entry offers a suggestion on how to combat it. Specifically, in Myers’ “Rapid Depletion”, he states that there are several ways to successfully combat overfishing: “more efficiently catch target species and reduce bycatch, elimination of taking immature fish before they have time to successfully breed, and of course, momentarily decrease global catch limits” (Myers 281-282). Both articles contain relevant information and utilize visualizations, however the graphs and charts found in “Rapid Depletion” are clearly more advanced and target

The Atlantic and Pacific Coasts fish stocks overall show little improvement, despite the management strategies that have been implemented to try to increase fish population. This is primarily due to overexploitation

This essay will focus on the bluefin tuna industry in Japan, a country which consumes the majority of the global catch. The industry is one driven by the sudden increase in demand for sushi, a Japanese haute food which is now consumed globally. It will also illustrate the uniqueness and important role which the bluefin tuna plays in aquatic ecosystems throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Lastly, the issues of globalization and lack of market regulation will be examined as a cause for the collapse in Atlantic bluefin fisheries. The tuna industry in Japan is having negative environmental impacts on the oceanic ecosystem.

With smaller tuna fisheries more and more fishermen are using hook a line methods of catching tuna. Meaning that a fisherman would throw a single line in the water and pull out a tuna. If the fish wasn’t a tuna or if the tuna was to small they would be

In contemporary society, human society is progressing rapidly on various fronts. Nevertheless at the same time, the problem of overfishing is becoming increasingly worrisome and attract extensive attention of the society. In this essay, I will address overfishing and propose some possible causes of this phenomenon which can give contribution to some solutions.

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 and where they want to with out any oversite. Overfishing causes such serious effects such as the ocean life getting knocked out of balance. Coastal communities rely on the benefits of the fishing for social and economic health. When we overfish it

Many breeds of fish are being captured at a faster rate than they can reproduce. Some species such as orange roughy fishing became popular in New Zealand in the 1970’s. Over time, it spread to many countries around the world. In the last 20 years, there has been a decline in catch up to 75%. It is no longer common to see in grocery stores as well as restaurants. The amounts of fish that are captured and distributed around the world are alarming opposed to the rate the fish can multiply.

According to the United Nations, 17% of fish stocks worldwide are currently overexploited; 52% are fully exploited; and 7% are depleted. This means that only an estimated 20% of worldwide fish stocks are not already at or above their capacity(Seafarms, 2013). Catches of Pacific herring have decreased by 71% since the 1960s, with Atlantic herring catches falling by 63%. Atlantic Cod catches have fallen by 69% in the same time(Seafarms, 2013). These are just a few of many facts and statistics on the topic of overfishing. The effects of these statistics and facts impact people’s and animal's lives around the