The World Problem of Overfishing

Prompt Examples for the Overfishing Problem Essays

• The Consequences of Overfishing on Marine Ecosystems
  Explore the ecological impact of overfishing on marine ecosystems, including the disruption of food chains, changes in biodiversity, and the potential extinction of species.
• The Role of Harmful Fishing Practices in Overfishing
  Analyze the detrimental effects of harmful fishing practices such as long line fishing, gill nets, and bottom trawling on the problem of overfishing, and discuss potential solutions to mitigate these practices.
• The Economic and Employment Aspects of Overfishing
  Examine the positive economic effects of the fishing industry, including employment opportunities and the expansion of the economy, while also addressing the negative consequences such as species endangerment and ecosystem disruption.
• The Global Perspective on Overfishing
  Discuss the global scope of the overfishing problem, considering statistics from organizations like SOFIA and the international union for conservation of nature, and explore the potential future scenarios if overfishing continues unchecked.
• Individual and Collective Actions to Address Overfishing
  Examine the role of individuals, communities, and governments in combating overfishing, and propose strategies such as responsible seafood consumption, spreading awareness, and engaging with elected officials to address this pressing issue.

Overfishing Problem Essay Example

In sealife the result of a species not being able to replenish due to a decreased population is called the result of overfishing. Overfishing is what happens to a species of fish when it is expected to be widely available for consumption. Fish are often harvested before they even reach adulthood and reproduce or spawn enough. 41% of species in the U.S. alone, according to the Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management. (Desonie, 2004)

Harmful fishing practices may be the most unnecessarily destructive of the causes of overfishing. Long line fishing attracts fish through bait and will catch every single baited fish. What cannot be seen by sea creatures are transparent gill nets. Bottom trawlers may be the worst practice, as they scrape the seafloor of all its life. Scientist and environmentalist Rob Fujita believes, “Too many boats are chasing too few fish”. The amount of boats that fish can sustain is surpassed by double. (Desonie, 2004)

Overfishing can have Positive effects on those who rely on it. Fishing industries have a wide employment rate and have a lot of job offerings. The technology using fishing like gillnets and bottom trawlers can be used against an invasive species. Overfishing has expanded the economy and created more sources of income. Seafood feeds the masses, and the more caught the more food choices people have.While that is promising, overfishing can also lead to things that are drastic to the ecosystem. If the current fishing habits that lead to species endangerment aren’t changed by 2025 we will lose cod to extinction and that IUCN will have added herring, tuna and salmon to it’s critically endangered list. “In one of the South American inlets, sharks were overfished. This resulted to having more jellyfish, making the water unsafe not only for humans but also for other marine species”. Bacteria caused by garbage in the ocean consumed by fish will end up in whoever eats the fish. (Connectusfund.org, 2015)

According to SOFIA, the State Of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2/3 of fish stocks on the high seas are overfished, well most stocks close to shore are failing or being finished to the maximum. The US office of fisheries of conservation and management says that 41% of species in US waters are overfished. The international union for conservation of nature estimated that by 2025 fishing fleets around the world lie idol as fishing is no longer profitable and coastal villages are abandoned, their inhabitants headed to cities in search of work and food. (Sheehan, 2015)

Know what you eat. If you eat fish make sure you know what you’re eating and pick the ones with lowest impact. Spread the word. Mention to your friends why you revert from eating certain fish. Write to your elected officials or political party and tell them you’re concerned about overfishing and destructive fishing methods. Your local newspaper almost certainly has a section dedicated for letters by readers or articles. If you are motivated writing a letter to the editor is a good way of getting a wide audience. (Koster, 2012)

Works Cited

1. ConnectUSFund. (2015). Overfishing effects on environment. Retrieved from https://connectusfund.org/14-overfishing-effects-on-environment
2. Desonie, D. (2004). Overfishing. Greenhaven Publishing.
3. Koster, J. (2012). 8 things you can do to help stop overfishing.
4. Sheehan, M. (2015). Overfishing: A Threat to Marine Biodiversity. Retrieved from https://www.seashepherd.org.au/conservation/overfishing-a-threat-to-marine-biodiversity.html
5. SOFIA. (2018). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
6. US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2020). Fisheries Economics of the United States 2018. Retrieved from https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/economic-impact-analysis/fisheries-economics-united-states-2018
7. Worm, B., Hilborn, R., Baum, J. K., Branch, T. A., Collie, J. S., Costello, C., … Zeller, D. (2009). Rebuilding Global Fisheries. Science, 325(5940), 578–585.