The Atlantic Goliath Grouper : A Critically Endangered Species

Many students have struggled with essays for their English class. They have difficulties due to many issues, the least of which are poor writing skills. Each person has their own area of writing which gives them the most trouble. If this lack of skill is not addressed then a student can be certain that his or her grade will fall. Personally, I have the most difficulty with conclusions, transitions, and comma usage. To address these issues I conducted research and found three effective sources; The Little seagull Handbook, Smart-words.org, and grammar.ccc.commnet.edu. These three sources assisted me in improving each of my three skills, which I struggle with.

Iconic Cape Cod Massachusetts is named after the Atlantic Cod. For centuries, this fish has provided food and trade for New Englanders. In this time, there have been several instances of overfishing by humans from the aboriginal era to colonial times but none so drastic as the present conditions of cod fisheries (Jackson, Kirby, Berger, and Bjorndal, 2001). Overfishing is a human induced occurrence where humans are fishing more than a body of water can sustain. In other words, humans are catching more adult fish preventing the existing population from growing to replenish the fish that were caught (Overfishing: A Global Disaster, n.d.). Worldwide, over 80% of the fish stocks are “fully- to over-exploited, depleted, or in a state of collapse” (Overfishing: A Global Disaster, n.d.). The results of this careless behavior has reduced the biodiversity in the Gulf of Maine and landed the Atlantic Cod on the endangered species list as being “vulnerable” (Cod, n.d.). In the neighboring region of Newfoundland, Canada, communities are already feeling the effects of overfishing. In 1992, at the beginning of the fishing season in the Grand Bank region, there were suddenly no more cod. The local economies collapsed and to this day, the region has not quite recovered (Brennan and Withgott, 2005).

The conservation of Udubia is a significant issue that needs to be dealt with promptly. There has been a decline in the marine wildlife surrounding the islands, which leads to a greater question; Why is this happening and what can we do to help? For one, fishing is a major concern. South of Tacominone, and to the east is where many tens and hundreds of tons of lobster and Rockfish accordingly, as well as hundreds of pounds Yelloweye Rockfish are being caught, and simultaneously a decline in the population of seals. There is a correspondence in the increased fishing yield numbers to the decreasing seal population. The dodo observed that 90% of manatees off the coast of Florida have scars on their backs due to the propellers of fishing boats.

Studies have repeatedly shown that as oxygen concentrations decrease, the abundance and diversity of fish decrease (Breitburg). Fish kills, in which large numbers of dead and dying fish float to the surface or wash onto shore, are probably the most dramatic and publicly visible manifestation of hypoxia and nutrient over-enrichment of coastal waters(Breitburg). In addition to mass mortalities that are easily observed, high mortality of fish lacking a swim bladder can occur leaving little or no visible evidence of fish at the surface or littering beaches (Breitburg). With no fish, shrimp, or crabs the Louisiana fishing market takes a huge hit that the economy feels in a major way. The gulf accounts for almost one-fifth of the countries fishing landings, which total to be three billion dollars (Petrolia). Fishing is not only a major part of Louisiana’s economy but also its culture. Without wildlife in our waters microorganism are given more opportunity to grow leading to bacteria infected waters. These bacteria infected waters could cause major health risks for those who come in contact with

The area of research that I have selected is the effects of overfishing in the Sea Otter ecosystem off the coast of California. The effects caused by the fishing pressure on the ecosystem will have different outcomes, depending on the strength and the types of relationships of the organisms present. (4) Red Abalone populations have declined drastically, to the point of the abalone fishery collapse. Several factors have led up to the collapse including Withering Syndrome, where the organism loses the ability to attach itself to rocks, making it more susceptible to predation, or the organism can eventually wither and starve to death. Sea Urchins and Red Abalone are a part of the same ecosystem, and are competitors of each other.(5) Both organisms graze on macroalgae and are a primary food source for Sea Otters. Sea Otters occurred from the North Pacific Rim down to Baja California, Mexico, but now only occur in small isolated patches (9) It is understood that Sea Otter presence can characterize community structure, where they can control and determine the size of Sea Urchin and Red Abalone populations. In the absence of Sea Otters, “Urchin Barrens” are created from the overgrazing of macroalgae by Sea Urchin. In these areas the ecosystem have changed dramatically, due to the overfishing, or in this case the over hunting, of Sea Otters causing a trophic cascade.(7)In some areas, Sea Otters have been reintroduced, in other areas they were never removed, and in others they

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 changes needed for sustainable fishing are too big and do not fit with America’s view of the economic system. Unfortunately, without these changes, the fish population will continue to decline. So, you can see that sustainable fishing in new England is not possible. Although New England and the US cannot have sustainable fishing because of their capitalistic values, as shown throughout history their values may

"Big Fish in Troubled Waters" by Stephen Ornes informs you that our oceans and water life are being overfished resulting in a decrease in fish.

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

Cetacean bycatch in fishing industries has been a highly debated topic for decades and is still considered an ongoing problem(NOAA 8). However, when it is looked at in comparison, the problem of bycatch has already been solved as much as is possible while still allowing fishing industries to fish at all. Bycatch is defined as any marine life that is caught and returned to the sea, whether it is dead or alive(Brooke 2). Therefore, many marine animals that are considered bycatch are not harmed in any way. Including these animals, the national bycatch ratio is still low(Brooke 3). Many actions have already been taken since this has become an issue that has reduced bycatch by an incredibly large amount. In many areas, the amount of bycatch compared to the amount of fish that the fisheries in that area take in is only a small fraction(Brooke 3). There will always be bycatch in fishing, even if a single fisherman is fishing with a single

The alligator, even more than the alligator gar, represents the ultimate of “big game” bowfishing within the confines of the United States. These large, sinister-looking reptiles look exactly like what they are – the ancient, unchanged survivors of a world millions of years dead, still gliding through the muddy waters of the American South after countless other species have perished. Quick-moving when necessary, dangerously aggressive on occasion – especially when provoked – heavily armored with thick, knobby scales, and instantly recognizable, alligators are rapidly becoming a favorite target of sport bowfishermen, who appreciate their unique challenge.

They belong to the animals group. Both of the species have low sets of eyes below the mouth and large upturned mouths. They are Tertiary animals which means nothing eats them. They eat a lot of the food such as phytoplankton and mussels.

On July 22 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had counted 71 manatees hit and killed by boats, this was report by the Naples Daily News on last Saturady.This is a big increase of losses of manatees cause by boats (alone) and all this happened this year . If this keeps happing there may become extinct.

Digest of federal resource laws of interest to the U.S. fish and wildlife service. (n.d). Retrieved from http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/FISHCON.HTML

How often do we stop and think about the people that fish to provide the rest of the world with the supply of fish that is in demand. With many fisheries closing down due to poor managing and depletion, anglers are turning to the deep sea to fill their “fish orders”. Large fishing vessels also known as Super Trawlers are dragging fishing nets up to a mile deep. Doing this allows them to catch as many fish as possible, but it is also destroying natural habitat such as coral reefs that have been part of the sea for thousands of years. The effect of this is devastating to sea life.