Fish Restoration Project Case Study

Fish Restoration Project Case Study
The Fish Restoration Project was made after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The oil became the largest spill in United States history. Barrels of
oil in large quantities spilled in the waters of The Gulf of Mexico over a period of eighty–seven days. This affected and injured the species that lived in
the waters. Not only did the animals suffer but the fishing businesses were affected as well. Many fishing businesses depend and lived off the fish and
natural resources from the waters, which affected them greatly. To restore the damage in the ecosystem caused by the oil spills, The National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NHFW) started a new temporary restoration project.
(Deepwater Horizon) The project started to help recover from the loss of species and by temporarily stopping the longline–fishing for a six month
period during the year. The project will be a temporary and voluntary refrain. The fishers that chose to participate in the project will be compensated
for their loss of work but will be provided with different gear that lowers the fish mortality. Fishing with ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Agencies that would like to participate in the project go through an application process to ensure their reduction of fishing. To being the project, in
2017 only seven fishing businesses were chosen to participate. The agencies were chosen were based on the gulf in the state Louisiana. (Oceanic
Fish) These agencies will testing out the new and safer equipment, while other fishing businesses will catch. By having small quantities of businesses
participating a year, it will not reduce the economy and financial input that fishing brings yearly. Because the first seven agencies are in one state the
NOAA is able to ensure and keep track of the progress and data of the project
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The loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, is a...
The loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, is a threatened species with a highly migratory behavior and shifting habitat requirements depending on
maturity (NMFS and USFWS 1998). The loggerhead nesting grounds are typically in warm temperate regions (NMFS and USFWS 1998).
In the original listing from USFWS (1978), the loggerhead sea turtle was listed as threatened throughout all of its range. The document goes on to state
that one of the main threats to the loggerhead sea turtle was that it was being harvested for the shell or as food; the eggs were considered a desired
food item and protein source. Regulations were put in place to protect the loggerhead sea turtle such as prohibition of foreign commerce, importation,
and exportation ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Figure 1. Loggerhead Observed Bycatch. This graph shows data collected on bycatch rates in SEAMAP analysis data set in the Stock Assessment of
Loggerhead Sea Turtles. From NMFS 2001. Nesting habitat degradation is an anthropogenic threat to the loggerhead sea turtles. These threats include
coastal development, erosion control barriers or beach armoring, artificial lighting, pollution, removal of native vegetation, and vehicle and pedestrian
traffic (NMFS and USFWS 2007). Some solutions include protecting and managing turtles on nesting beaches, monitor coastal construction, implement
lighting regulations, screen artificial lighting with vegetation, and impose regulations on beach armoring (NMFS and USFWS 1998). Predation is an
important threat to consider in nesting areas for the loggerhead. Many places have depredation to protect the eggs and hatchlings against predators
such as feral dogs, raccoons, and foxes (NMFS and USFWS 2007).
The future outlook for the loggerhead turtle has been studied using two analyses, one looked at counts of nesting females and the other analysis was a
stage based population model done to look at the anthropogenic mortalities with respect to the vital rates of the species (Conant et al. 2009). Using
these analyses, it was determined that for the North Atlantic Ocean DPS there was a greater likelihood of quasi–extinction for the Northern Gulf of
Mexico

Literature Review Of Literature On Shark Utilization,...
Literature Review
Based on the article Shark Utilization, Marketing and Trade by Stefania Vannuccini,
Food and Agriculture, "the life history of sharks are characterized by slow growth rates, low
fecundity potential, relatively late sexual maturation, long life spans and so they are classified by
ecologists as strong K strategists. Furthermore, they are usually the top predator in their
communities and are therefore comparatively sparsely distributed so, they possess biological
peculiarities and an ecological role that indicates that they could by particularly sensitive to an
increase in fishing."
So this article shows that the life history itself affects their population. The slow growing,
the low potential to produce offsprings and mature late are also big ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For example, the assessment for the TopeShark Galeorhinus Galeus lists is as
endangered ( South America ), vulnerable ( South Australia ), and near threatened ( New Zealand
and Southern Africa ). This species has valuable flesh, but it has particularly low biological
productivity, and comparing the situation across regions demonstrates how inadequately

managed species can be depleted."
In this IUCN, we can see the increasing percentage of some threatened species not only
in the Philippines but also in the whole world. This only means that the continuous decreasing
number of sharks are widely spreading just like a virus that we need to take action.
In Wildlife in a Changing World : An Analysis of the 2008IUCN Red List credited by
Jean Christophe Vie, Craig Hilton Taylor, S.N. Stuart / Status of the World's Marine Species by
Beth A. Polidoro et. al. , "of the 1045 species of sharks and their relatives ( class chondrichthyes )
a high proportion ( 47 % ) are listed as data deficient compared to the five other marine groups
shown. As many sharks and rays are deep water pelagic species, they are harder to study in

Sea Turtles : The Sea Turtle
Sea Turtles: Sea turtles are another species which is drastically effected by longline fishing being caught as another bycatch. The two sea turtles who
are accidentally caught more often are the loggerhead sea turtle and the leatherback sea turtle. Both of these sea turtles have been known to be on
endangered lists and unless we can change our fishing methods these innocent organisms could be lost in the near future. In a study by R. Lewison, et
al. (2004) they were able to estimate the regions which both of these sea turtles are caught in the world. The loggerhead sea turtle is accidentally caught
more often in the regions of the Mediterranean and Pacific Ocean. The leatherback sea turtle is accidentally caught more in the Pacific and ... Show
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(2005). The J hook is a small hook which has a straight tip with only a small amount which could catch the organism's mouth before it swallows the
hook. The 18/0 circle hook is a wider hook depending on the offset the fishermen have chosen, which has a rounded tip similar to a crescent moon
shape. This shape allows the hook to catch the organism by their mouth since it has more area at which it could latch onto the different organisms.
The 18/0 circle hook is the primary choice for fishermen, especially if they are targeting tune, however, the J hook has become popular for the
fishermen wanting to catch swordfish. In the experiment conducted by J. Watson, et al (2005), they specifically looked at the types of hooks used
when the sea turtles swallowed the hook, were caught in the mouth, or externally hooked. They were able to see an increase in hooks, J hook,
swallowed for the loggerhead sea turtle. While the hook which had caught both sea turtles was the 18/0 circle hook. Finally, for the leatherback sea
turtle, they were able to see the J hook caught the turtles externally more often than the 18/0 circle hook. The type of hook also depends on what
species the fishermen are attempting to catch as well as what kind of bait they want to use. The 18/0 circle hook is an excellent hook which holds onto
the bait tightly giving no give to the organism attempting to consume the bait. The 18/0 circle hook with "squid bait

Endangerment Of Dolphins
The Affect Gillnetting Has on The Endangerment of Dolphins
Many issues with very few solutions are causing endangerment to Dolphins. The biggest issue causing such endangerments to this species is the issue
of fishing. Fishing of Dolphins has been overlooked by many people who had no clue Dolphins were an endangered species or the fact they were even a
species that was fished for by fishermen. Humans have been the biggest impact on their endangerment due to fishing. While regulations have been put
on fisherman, many happen to overlook the rules and continue to fish for what they want to fish for. The government knows about these fishermen but
does nothing to stop them. If there were more regulations on fishing in the waters and the fishermen and other people listened to these regulations on
fishing, Dolphins and many other species could have a chance for survival. There are many strategies of fishing but one of these strategies has made a
huge impact on their endangerment. A specific fishing strategy called gillnetting has become illegal in many different regions and countries due to
species endangerment. Even though gillnetting is illegal, it does not stop fishermen from gillnetting. The Hector, Baiji, Maui and Indo–Pacific
Humpback Dolphins are just some of the few types of Dolphins who are on the endangered list due to gillnetting in the waters around the world. The
only solutions that have been thought of so far have been the government regulations on fishermen.

Marine Mammal Bycatch Research Papers
Acoustic Pingers on Nets in order to reduce Marine Mammal Bycatch
A topic that is known for its controversy is the use of acoustic pingers on fishing nets in an attempt to reduce marine mammal bycatch. While this
idea seems appealing and has its potential benefits, there are also drawbacks to the use of this kind of device as well. When a device such as the
acoustic pinger is invented, it is important to consider the various types of impacts it will have, especially in terms of marine mammal species
conservation.
The desired goal of installation of acoustic pingers on fishing nets is to notably reduce the amount of marine mammal bycatch in fishing nets. While
this is the immediate effect of the acoustic pingers, potential long–term effects ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The purpose of these devices is to reduce such bycatch, but with every tool there are pros and cons, positive and negative effects. When an acoustic
pinger is put to use, all of these effects must be considered too when a marine mammal is exposed to the noise emitted by an acoustic pinger: potential
for habituation, the "dinner bell effect", changes in swimming behaviors and respiration rates, potential for change in echolocation behaviors, and the
ideal frequency the pinger must have to create avoidance from fishery nets. Change in behaviors of fish not targeted by the acoustic pingers should still
be taken into account as well upon use of these pingers. In addition, issues can lie within how the acoustic pinger is handled by fishermen: inefficient
usage and the potential for equipment failure, along with varying degrees of willingness to use such a device on fishing trips can greatly impact the
reduction rates of marine mammal bycatch, and even create the risk of further increasing bycatch rates when the goal was to lower them in the first
place. Thus, while acoustic pingers were built with good intentions at conserving marine mammal species in attempt to reduce their rates as bycatch in
fisherman nets, careful consideration must occur when putting one of these devices into actual use, including analysis of impacts from the perspectives
of the target marine mammal species, the non–targeted nearby fish species, and the fishermen running the fishing nets. The conclusion can be drawn
that if acoustic pingers are put into use, they must be completely be put into use as a full and not partial set of pingers on the net, high maintenance
must be kept up with to lower the chance of equipment failure, and the pingers must be specialized for certain marine mammal species in order to
produce optimal results of reduction of marine mammal bycatch. It seems that the

The New Zealand Sea Lion
IIntroduction
The New Zealand sea lion (formerly known as the Hooker's sea lion) is the most threatened sea lion species in the world.
AScope
Bycatch is a significant issue affecting marine mammals in New Zealand. This paper will focus on the effect that squid trawling has on the declining
population of the New Zealand sea lion. This paper will address whether current mechanisms that seek to protect the New Zealand sea lion are robust
and will recommend options for reform.
BBackground
Historically, New Zealand sea lions occupied sites all around New Zealand. TheNew Zealand sea lion was common throughout New Zealand until the
late eighteenth century. Today, New Zealand sea lions exist mainly on two main breeding sites: the Auckland Islands, and Campbell Island. In 2010,
approximately 71% of sea lion pups were born at the Auckland Islands and 29% of sea lion pups were born on Campbell Island. For sea lions,
estimates of pup production are the best measure of population status and size. In early 2014, 1,575 pups were counted on the Auckland Islands.
The Auckland Island population appears to be sharply decreasing. The most recent figures indicate that since 1998 there has been decrease in pup
production at the Auckland Islands of approximately 50%.
The Ministry for Primary Industries maintains that the direct effect of fishing–related mortality on the New Zealand sea lion population is small. In
spite of this, research suggests that a plausible hypothesis of the

Bycatch Research Paper
The term has been written by Simon Northridge. what is bycatch? It is the unfortunate event of marine mammals getting caught and killed during
fishing.most of the time, these mammals deaths were completely unintentional by the fishermen but it regularly happens during fishing operations.
Bycatch is therefore incidental catches. No matter the fishing gear, they have all catched at least once, unwanted marine mammals especially in greatly
fished areas. Species like whales, porpoises and others find their way into these gears but are unable to get out of them. A staggering 300, 000 marine
mammals are killed through bycatch. For many years, and to this day, bycatches of marine mammals are seen as bonus and therefore used to sell for
consumption. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The issue with delphinids contrary to dolphins, once they are caught in purse seine nets with yellowphin tuna, they cannot escape it and therefore die.
Although this issue what happening as early as in the 1950's, it only started getting monitored in the 1970's. for the many years when it was happening,
the annual mortalities were around 200–500, 000. Even with the new monitoring, many dolphins are continuously being killed through this fishing
technique. Thanks to dolphin safe labels and movement, there has been great improvement on this practice. This improvement has led to a reduction
of dolphin mortalities to less than 1500 per year in 2004. Unfortunately, even with this progress, dolphins and the other marine mammals affected are
struggling to repopulate because of how affected the species were from all the previous years but also since large–scale captures are still going on.
The discovery of the effect of the ETP tuna fishery on dolphins has opened the door to a realization that other fisheries are killing several other
marine mammals. The baji Lipotes vexillifer is now declared extinct as well as the vaquita Phocoena sinus. The Baji is a Chinese river dolphin and
its extinction is caused by fishing lines; it is a long line of sharp hooks used for other fish but since it is used in the same Chinese river than the Baji, it
catches and kills

Over Fishing Research Paper
Commercial fishing has a great affect on the marine life for many reasons. Those reasons include species of marine life going extinct, or over
population. Some marine life are going extinct from overfishing because as scientists said fish are able to produce only a limited quantity of fish over
time this problem cannot only affect the fish but it can affect the entire ecosystem in the ocean. Some species of fish are also going extinct from
bycatch. Bycatch is when other species of fish or marine life is captured in the nets with the target fish that is supposed to be caught. It is estimated by
scientists that 25 percent of the commercial fishing industries around the world harvest is discarded bycatch. Some species of marine life cannot only
go extinct but it can also overpopulate. Certain types of marine life can go extinct because their predators are going also going extinct. This issue arose
in the early 1900s when commercial fishing industries expanded their fishing fleets. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As the population increases the fishing industry must meet the demand for more fish. While catching the fish they use nets that are 260 feet in length
which catch about 100 tons of fish daily. The size of the net makes it greater to overfish because this net is as long as a football field which catches
tons of fish. Another cause of overfishing is bycatch, because these unwanted fish are being caught in the nets with the type of fish that is being targeted.
Overfishing and bycatch can lead to many problems and one of the main problems of overfishing and bycatch is the species of fish or marine life
going extinct. The consequences of this problem is some of fish and marine life going extinct. When it happens it can affect many things such as not
providing certain animals food. It can also lead to overpopulation in some species because there predator might not be alive anymore so without certain
species predators will

The Benefits Of Overfishing
Somewhere in the world an innocent group of dolphins is getting caught and killed in a giant net used to capture thousands of fish at one time.
Around 25 percent of all fish caught in nets are caught unintentionally and sometimes killed. Have you ever wondered where all the fish went? Or
why the fish population is decreasing? I believe that overfishing laws need to be enforced in all bodies of water around the world because it is overall
bad for the environment, for us as humans, and our needs.
First of all, fish is a common food source in the world especially in areas around the ocean. People all around the world rely on fish for their main
food source everyday. The fish population is severely depleting because of lots of overfishing. To show how much less fish there are, my research
shows that the amount of fish consumption has gone down in the past few years. Many types of seafood have been overfished also. Places like
restaurants have had to replace normal fish on the menu with similar looking and tasting fish because of the lack of seafood. Species like eel and king
crab have been overfished to critically low levels. Loads of these species get caught in nets everyday with the chance to escape.
Bycatch needs to be stopped during fishing everywhere. It has caused many fish and other creatures to be overfished. Bycatch means fish and other
things unintentionally caught in massive drift nets used by fisherman. Fish that are not edible, harmful, or dangerous to the

Cetacean Bycatch Is A Problem
Cetacean Bycatch is a Problem Cetacean bycatch is an ongoing problem in the oceans of the world. Cetaceans are defined as whales, dolphins and
porpoises(CBRC 1). Bycatch is "marine mammals that are "captured" but discarded"(Read 2). This happens when fishing industries are fishing for a
certain type of marine animal and other marine animals are caught accidentally along with the intended catch. Many times, this leads to the death of
the animal that was not meant to be caught, and the animal is tossed back into the ocean. This happens with all kinds of marine life, and it has
caused the depletion of many different species. However, this is specifically bad for cetaceans, such as dolphins and whales, because they have such
a long lifespan(Brown 2). They also take a very long time to mature(Brown 2). These factors make catching these animals very detrimental to the
species as a whole because it takes longer for them to reach an age where they can reproduce(Brown 2). The population of many cetaceans have
decreased exponentially. When there is someone watching the nets that cetaceans are accidentally caught in, many times they can be saved. However,
there are only select few types of fishing methods that do this, and they are not of the prevalent fishing methods that produce cetacean bycatch. This is a
problem because there is a connection between most living animals. If a certain part of the connection is eliminated, it will all fall apart. For example,
the relationship between

Overfishing And Its Effects On The Ocean
Overfishing Leads to a Worldwide Oceanic Ecological Collapse People often take the ocean for granted due to its vastness since it makes up over
seventy percent of the Earth, however the integrity of the ocean is deteriorating. One of the major, worldwide threats to the wellbeing of the ocean and
its inhabitants is overfishing. Overfishing affects not only the ocean, but also the land dwellers. Many countries around the world depend on fish as their
main source of food. Tons of fish are caught out of the sea daily, however, the rate that fish are being hauled is far too high where fish stocks are
incapable of naturally recovering. There is a decline in population size of affected fish and some species have even faced extinction. Overfishing is
the leading cause of ecological extinction, foregoing any other human disruptions to marine ecosystems, such as pollution, water degradation, and
climate change (Jackson, et al). Overfishing causes an overwhelming devastation upon the oceans because it depletes food resources, disrupts the
food web, and destroys habitats of aquatic organisms, due to this, overfishing causes an oceanic ecological collapse worldwide. Overfishing is not a
problem that has recently arise, but a problem that started since the early 1800s. Overfishing first began when people sought for blubber for lamp oil,
which lead to a decline in whale population. By the mid–1900s, some fish were almost wiped out, such as the Atlantic cod, herring, and sardines

The Problem Of Overfishing
Overfishing: The Problem and the Solution
Your Name
Axia College of University of Phoenix
Overfishing: The Problem and the Solution
A major environmental problem that has developed over the last few years is overfishing. What is overfishing? Overfishing is simply what it sounds
like. Overfishing occurs when fishermen are catching fish so quickly and at such high rates that the fish are unable to reproduce fast enough to
replenish the population. It is my belief that, if this has not always been a problem, it has always been a problem in the making. This problem has
progressively gotten worse as the human population that relies on fish as a food resource has increased and the equipment and techniques used by the
fishermen have allowed for more fish than ever to be caught. Even though overfishing is a serious problem that would not be possible to correct
overnight, I do believe that there are actions that could be taken to reverse this water resource problem.
Humans Are Not the Only Ones Affected
Humans are the number one contributor to this problem. With the continuing rise in population that relies on fish in their diet and the demand to
meet it there has been more need for fishermen and fisheries to meet these needs. With the increase in the number of fishermen and fisheries in
industry, there has been an increase in competition to get the largest catch and make as much money as possible. The race by fishermen and fisheries
to increase their catches and the need to meet demands has led to the discovery of the technology and techniques that would allow for this which are
often destructive. However, this problem affects more than humans. There are other animals that have fish in their diet. Fish are also in the diet of
many species in the water and are responsible for eating some species. With dwindling fish populations and the chance that we will one day be
without fish, we face the balance of the species and habitats that are sustained by fish becoming unbalanced or losing many more species as a result.
Current Strategies
There are currently laws and programs in place that are meant to protect fish and fish habitats. One of these is the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
(FWCA), 1956. "The Fish and

Overfishing Is A Global Issue
Overfishing began in the early 1800's when it was discovered that whale blubber could be utilized for oil lamps. Overfishing is when fish are taken
from the ocean at a rate that is too fast for them to adequately repopulate. In contrast to every damaging anthropogenic activity, overfishing has taken
the biggest toll on the marine ecosystems and has led many fish species to reduce rapidly and others to become extinct. In order to stop this before it is
too late, we must enforce sustainable methods, and eliminate the use of these extremely damaging procedures. Overfishing is a global issue, that has
resulted in economic loss, marine life disruption and decreased food security, by supporting sustainable methods and campaigning to ban our ... Show
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Bycatch is all of the extra items the net catches outside of the targeted species. Practices like trawling, could lead our marine ecosystems to
suddenly collapse, leading our already severe problem to spiral out of control. This practice is not the only method that is currently being used that
is resulting in terrible consequences. Furthermore, fish are not the only ones affected by overfishing. Many of the human population rely heavily on
fish species as a viable food source. If it were to suddenly and entirely disappear we would notice. "Every year, 77.9 million metric tons (170 billion
lbs.) of wild fish and shellfish are harvested from the oceans " (Palliser). Plus, this high demand for fish has led fisheries to fish down the web. This
means that as fish species have become depleted or extinct, fisheries will continue to search and catch deeper and deeper into the ocean. This affects
the marine biodiversity and also effects the value of marine animals. The majority of fisheries around the world are pushed to their limits. Fishermen
are aware of the critical need for safeguarding fish populations and the marine environment. However, illegal and pirate fishing are still in practice and
regulations continue to be ignored. "Worldwide illegal and unreported fishing losses are estimated between 11 and 26 million tons, or one–fifth of the
total global fisheries

Dan Barber Foods
Another important element to look at for food is how our food is made and our options to food. Over time, Dan Barber explains that we have
shifted our approach to eating from family style that consisted of a classic meal centered on a large cut of meat with a few vegetables. Later
shifting to a cautious approach that we expect our meat is from free range animals and the vegetables are locally sourced. Whereas, today we are
more of an integrated system of vegetable, grain, and livestock production that is fully supported by what we choose to cook for dinner. Since we
experience no upper limit on the amount of meat we can consume. As a result from the industry becoming too good at producing a lot of animals too
cheaply.
Research has proved that ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Bycatch is an estimated 1 million tons of discarded seafood goes back into the water in the European Union alone (Smith,2012). LeГіn, a restaurant
chef in Puerto de Santa MarГa, Spain, started asking fishermen for everything to help reduce the bycatch. He even went as far as using fish eyeballs
as a thickening agent for his food (Smith,2012). The issue when a chef order bycatch is the mystery of the delivery. They never know what they are
going to get or how much of each item but have to think of a way to put it on their menu once it arrives. It is a more risky way to run a restaurant then
having a set menu and recipes to follow but it goes against the norm to do better and taste

Bycatch Fishing
One of the biggest contributions to biodiversity loss is over fishing which is employed by fishery's. the methods and techniques used include bottom
trawling, net, and poisoning in order to catch large sums of fish. Because of these tactics used the biggest problem is Bycatch which are unwanted
species that are caught in the nets on accident. To rectify this problem Ward et. Al suggests "Using a single
– species approach, the fishing gear is
modified to eliminate the harvest of incidentally caught fish species."(ward et al. 2012). By modifying fishing gear, species like dolphins, sea turtles,
and fish would be able to escape the nets and reduce the amount of Bycatch. Through sustainable practices biodiversity loss can be stopped, in a perfect

Swordfish Reflection
On the morning of Black Friday, my dad and I went shopping – at Whole Foods – to get some seafood. There were about a dozen different kinds of
fish on display, and after searching anxiously, I found what I wanted, swordfish, on the other end of the shelf: I was very much new to the place and
swordfish in general (don't think I had ever eaten it before). Next, I was tasked with inquiring the fishmonger about the fish. Fortunately, that went
smoothly, and he was able to tell me everything I needed to know: I learned that the swordfish they had came from the Pacific and were produce of
Hawaii; they were wild–caught by long lines ("line–caught") and were processed there before refrigerated and shipped over; I noticed that swordfish
was on the more expensive side (21.99$ per pound, the second most expensive fish they had), and he explained that it's because swordfish are big and
thus take a lot of time and effort to process. After that, I picked out a nice–looking cut and bought it along with a lemon and some parsley. When we
arrived home, I began preparing the ingredients with the help of my parents somewhat along the lines of a popular recipe I found online called
"Pan–Roasted Swordfish Steaks with Mixed–Peppercorn Butter." We first prepared the butter–based sauce in a small bowl. I put in a quarter cup of
butter, 3 minced garlic cloves (I confused "1 clove of garlic" in the recipe with a head of garlic, but fortunately we had the common sense to not
actually put in an

Pros And Cons Of Cetacean Bycatch
Cetacean Bycatch is Under Control 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. Cetaceans are defined as marine mammals. 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 ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Instead of keeping the dolphins in the nets that they catch the other fish with, they are required to release the dolphins from the net as soon as
possible(NOAA 5). This is done carefully so that "the dolphins are released alive(NOAA 6)." This allows more dolphins, despite still being bycatch,
to live through the process and carry on with their lives. They also catch tuna in ways other than following dolphins, such as using logs or tuna caught
on a trip in which no dolphins are harmed(NOAA 12). This type of tuna fishing allows fishing industries to put the Dolphin–Safe label on their
tuna(NOAA 11). Fishing industries have already taken the necessary actions to stop cetacean bycatch as much as they can. How much they have
changed their gear and their methods in order to compensate for the cetaceans supports that cetacean bycatch is no longer an

The Pros And Cons Of Cetacean Bycatch
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 ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, as long as there is bycatch, people will think that there is a problem. In order to get completely rid of bycatch, there would have to be no
fishing at all. This will never happen. Therefore, there is no longer a solvable problem with cetacean bycatch. A couple facts supporting this statement
are that the amount of cetacean bycatch has already reduced exponentially and the national bycatch rate is very low. The amount of cetacean bycatch
in the fishing industries of the world has decreased incredibly since it was first announced as a problem(NOAA 8). In the 1960's, there was an
estimated number of 500,000 dolphins caught as bycatch per year by fishing industries alone(NOAA 8). There was an act, the U.S. Marine Mammal
Protection Act, that was passed in 1972. This act's main goal was to reduce marine mammal bycatch. This act required that "scientific studies were
initiated, observers were placed on fishing boats, fishing gear was inspected,

Chelonia Mydas: The Importance Of The Green Turtles
The Ocean is 70 percent of the earth's surface, humans have explored less than five percent of the ocean, and is home to an innumerable amount of
living organisms. One of its oldest inhabitants is the Cheloniidae dates back to the Triassic era, roughly 250 million years ago, (Wang et al., 2013). The
Cheloniidae family has several subspecies the Eretmochelys imbricate, Caretta caretta, Dermochelys coriacea, Lepidochelys olivacea, and Chelonia
mydas. While there are multiple endangered subspecies of the Cheloniidae; the endangered Chelonia mydas, commonly known as the green turtle, will
be the focus of this paper. The paper will discuss the green turtle's importance to its ecosystem, where they are most commonly found, importance to its
ecosystem, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Rather than have one or two high dense areas of Chelonia mydas entire lagoons and bays should be protected, data shows that green turtles have high
fidelity with foraging areas in their lagoons (Senko et al., 2010). Another academic journal discuss how application and enforcement of legislation both
domestic and international has increased in nesting and the creation of marine protected areas, more specifically in this case in the Caribbean Costa
Rica (TroГ«ng and Rankin, 2005). Non–government organizations like world wildlife fund have taken steps with local communities to combat the
illegal trade of green turtle eggs and meat on the black market (worldwildlifefund.org,

Issues Associated with the Endangerment of the Green Sea...
The current status of the Green sea turtle has been deemed endangered, due to the reckless behavior of fishermen, poachers and the disturbance of
their nesting homes. According to the Sea Turtle Restoration Project5 "Ancient ocean dwellers, sea turtles have lived on the Earth for 150 million
years, since before the time of the dinosaurs." Even though Green sea turtles are endangered, they have lived on this planet longer than humans have.
Author Carl Sofia2 states that for hundreds of millions of years, turtles swam in a world without people while currently their endangerment has
become a nationwide economic issue. This particular topic is important because Green sea turtles are beneficial to the ocean and its inhabitants.
NOAA1 discovered that "Adult green sea turtles are unique among sea turtles in that they only eat plants; they are herbivorous feeding primarily on
sea grasses and algae." This diet is beneficial to the ocean because they keep sea grass along the ocean floor short. Marine biologists of the Sea Turtle
Conservancy6 declared that, "Sea turtles and manatees act as grazing animals that cut the grass short and help maintain the health of the sea grass beds.
Over the past decades, there has been a decline in sea grass beds. This decline may be linked to the low numbers of sea turtles." While scientist and
environmentalist declare overfishing as one of the most important issues, the continuous endangerment of Green sea turtles are more important because
they're

Marine Mammal Bycatch Essay
Throughout the years, marine mammal bycatch has continued to be a growing concern due to a steady increase in mammal mortality rates. Mike
Gaworecki mentions in his article that during this past month the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration initiated a rule limiting seafood
imports from different countries that do not meet the United States new bycatch standards. Bycatch is a term that means catching unwanted species
when intending to fish for a different type of species. On a daily basis multiple dolphins, whales, and other unwanted animals are being captured
because of inappropriate or ill–suited forms of netting and traps. By implementing this rule the United States government hopes to prevent and reduce
future cases of inappropriate capture. NOAA claims that they feel this is necessary because they want to enforce more restrictions on fishery related
marine mammal deaths, while influencing other countries to improve on their fishing methods.
The reason for this sudden ruling was because several conservation groups joined together to sue the American government for lack of improvement
throughout the years on fishery imports from other countries. By losing this ruling, the United States government has been forced to change their
standards in order to support a previous act they made in 1972, The Marine Mammal Protection Act. This act originally provided protection for all
marine mammals and included their protection of population sustainability. Over the years, the government had failed to continue this protection with
countries that they imported seafood supply from and thus led to stricter regulations. A key example used to demonstrate some effects the seafood
imports had include the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Source: https://news.mongabay.com/2016/08/noaa–establishes–final–rule–on–marine–mammal–bycatch–for–seafood–imports/ Alternative Source:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/mmpa/ Photo Source:

Marine Fish Overfishing
A predominant resource in our oceans are fish and other marine species. In recent times, fish have been caught with less effort due to new
technologies, improved equipment and human's need for money. Fishermen have started capturing fish at a faster rate than they can be reproduced.
This is known as overfishing which leads to degradation of our oceans. The fishing industry is growing as the demand for seafood is increasing. This
leads to many negative issues, the main issue being the loss of species and ecosystems which can lead to humans losing such a valuable source of
food. What makes matters worse is that other marine species are caught and destroyed for no purpose in the process. Scientists predict the commercial
extinction of marine life if this trend continues. This raises the question "should more be done to sustainably manage ocean fishing?"
Fishing is destroying marine biodiversity. When it comes to balancing the ecosystem, every single plant and animal have a role to play. Marine
creatures are dependent on other organisms in order to thrive. The oceanic ecosystem contains complex interlinked systems where organisms rely on
their own niche for survival. As the world's population's demand for seafood increases so does commercial fishing. 'The global marine fish catch is
approaching its upper limit' (Evatt G 2017). The vast removal of targeted fish has shifted the food web structure. Fishing has led to a decrease in the
mean size of target fish as the larger

The Shark : The Predator Of The Sea
Over 350 million years ago, the shark species has been labeled as the apex predator of the sea. With the increase in human population the demand for
shark meat and fins are at an all time high therefore, the existence of the shark is becoming a concern. Individuals are observing to think of sharks as a
negative feature to the environment, which is prolonging the effect to prevent shark species from becoming extinct. With that in mind, not only are
human over–fishing sharks, but also the CO2 emission into the ocean are also at an all time high and quickly rising. Some private as well as national
organizations have accepted the challenge of educating and informing individuals concerning the existence of the shark specie and also the effect of
ocean acidification to its importance to the sea.
The ocean's ecosystem is made up of complex food webs, which the sharks play a vital role in. Sharks are at the top of the food chain in nearly
every part of every ocean. They keep populations of other fish healthy and assure that those fish stay in their own part ecosystem. We are beginning
to see a large epidemic, where sharks are being eliminated, ultimately engendering the balance of the marine ecosystem. In the parts of the ocean that
sharks have been heavily fished, there is clear evidence of an unbalanced marine ecosystem. Sharks are being killed for their fins for shark fin soup, it
is said that, "many fishermen prefer to practice shark finning instead of bringing whole sharks to

Dusky Shark Essay
The oceans primordial predators mortality rates have subsided, due to the increasing popularity of longlining among fisheries. Previous records have
revealed that after releasing a pelagic longline consisting of 17,000 hooks, they concluded that sharks made up 45% of the bycatch collected.
Disregarding the ~33% of the shark bite–offs. (2) Revealing that even if they changed J–hooks to circle hooks, sharks would still be a liability. In the
end, the same longlines have still been used. Furthermore, in 2010 more than 3,400 dusky sharks were captured as bycatch, even though it is illegal to
deliberately catch the species (12–8–15). However, the dusky shark is not the only endangered shark species being threatened by longlines. Out of the
12 species, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
A few of these concerns revolve around depredation, damage and loss of gear, reduced catch of marketable species, risk of injury, and expenditure of
time for the fisheries, and crew. However, in 2010 more than 3,400 dusky sharks were captured as bycatch, even though it is illegal to deliberately to
catch (12–8–15). The dusky shark is not the only endangered shark species being threatened by longlines. Out of the 12 species, the bigeye thresher,
dusky, and scalloped hammerhead have became the most vulnerable (12–9–15:1). According to studies from the University of Miami and the National
Marine Fisheries Service, some species exhibited 95% survival rates (ex.tiger sharks), while some significantly lowered in the 20–40% range (ex. night
shark and scalloped hammerheads) [12–9–15:1]. Displaying that even there may be minor problems for the workers, the sharks have a more severe
situation. Organizations dedicated to aiding shark conservation include Shark Savers, Sea Shepherd, World Wildlife, UNEP, Project GloBAL, Regional
Seas, the Blue Ocean Institute, and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management

Informative Essay On Fishless Oceans
Melanie Chen
Professor Polster
English 1B
14 March 2016
Fishless Oceans Have you ever wondered about what lives deep within the ocean? With the earth composed of 71% of ocean, there live many different
species of marine life such as salmon, tuna, sharks, and other aquatic animals. Because of the healthy proteins and fats such as omega–3 fatty acids fish
provide, fish consumption has greatly increased over the past few decades. With fish as an alternative to red meats such as cows, pigs, and chicken, it
has provided many benefits for our health such as regulate blood clotting, and provide significant amounts of iron, and "good" omega fatty acids that
the human body cannot produce on its own. Fishing has been used to meet consumer demand and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For example, one commercial fishing method that has significantly increased the amount of bycatch and destruction of marine ecosystems is known
as bottom trawling. This popular commercial fishing technique was first introduced in New Zealand when fishers began searching for shrimp and
other deep sea species. Trawling is now being used to catch a range of species, such as shrimp, hoki, ling, hake, squid, and halibut. Bottom trawling
"involves one or two fishing vessels to tow a large net." As these large nets drag through the bottom seafloor, nets can be towed for at least two hours
at a speed of a high of four knots. With these weighted nets dragging along the seafloor, everything in its path is either disturbed, damaged, or
completely destroyed. Although bottom trawling may be a more labor–saving method to catching large loads of shrimp and other deep sea life, there
have been occurrences in which the amount of bycatch discarded exceeds the amount of target fish caught. For instance, in 2007, Belize only landed
"19 metric tons of shrimp and likely discarded about 76 to 190 metric tons of other marine life." From the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations, Kelleher stated that bottom trawling has been "one of the most destructive ways to catch fish, and is responsible for up to half of all
discarded fish and marine life worldwide." Not only has bottom trawling led to overfishing but it also has disrupted coral reefs, and many other seafloor
habitats. As habitat destruction from these fishing techniques worsen, fish populations continue to be threatened and

Saving The Vaquitas Research Paper
Saving the Vaquitas, Marine Life's Final Hope
Bycatch has been a great issue to many of marine life. Bycatch is referred in the fishing industry where fish and other marine like species are
caught inadvertently and by accident while fishermen tend to catch only a certain, targeted species. An example would be if the animals that are
caught do not fit in the category of proper sex, size, and particular species would be consider bycatch. Because of these actions, certain species are
declining in population, or worse, on the merge of extinction. The vaquita is one of the creatures that are close to being extinct due to the actions of
bycatch because they are caught by nets and are either discarded or drowned. The vaquita is a little porpoise ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
With many of the unregulated fishing practices and other actions, such an illegal trade on wildlife, are composing great amount of peril to economic,
social, and natural values the gulf coasts of south California. Because of such actions, it is creating a menace to the vaquita population, and thus
forwarding them to extinction. If society and fishermen do fail to take a required action and response to help protect the defenseless population of
vaquitas, the world may never get to witness another glimpse of these beautiful creatures. Vaquitas were only introduced to the ocean and society for a
couple of

North Carolina Fishing
In 2015, commercial fisheries harvested in North Carolina caught more than four times the recreational coastal fish harvest, yet commercial fishermen
ask for less stringency on commercial fishing ("Portal"). Within North Carolina waters the most effective way of catching fish can be noticed without
looking very far. Over the past few decades, many more commercial fishermen have been popping up creating a lack of abundance in some channels
and creeks that once were pristine. The methods used by many commercial fishermen can harm them by catch and nontarget species of the estuaries
and nurseries. With the harming of these species we also begin to harm the keystone species of most coastal regions. There may have been an
abundance of fish at one ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When gill nets are used there is no escape for manatees or sea turtles until someone comes to cut them out of the floating walls of the mesh entrap
them until they are taken by death or released. But when North Carolinians see a manatee which may be rare to see why would they wish to see one
entangled in a net. These poor animals are already endangered why does it have to be made worse by commercial fishermen. Manatees are aquatic
mammals kind of like whales they are the gentle giants of the Intracoastal waterway. Manatees are like the whales of inshore but unlike whales
manatees are more inept to being harmed by humans and the fishing. Sea turtles use both inshore and offshore waters so they are always in danger
from the fisheries from being run over by a boat or being entrapped in a net. Sea turtles are endangered already but when they come into inshore waters
they endanger their lives unknowingly they risk death. But thankfully they resist coming into these waters unless they must lay eggs. In order to
protect sea turtles many people must take a stand for these beautiful

The Trans Pacific Partnership ( Tpp )
Introduction Passed in October 2015, the Trans–Pacific Partnership (TPP) is the largest free trade agreement (FTA) to date, comprising nearly 40% of
the world's economy. Countries including the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, South Korea and Mexico, among others share a common
economic characteristic of a gross domestic production exceeding 1 trillion dollars annually. Other developing pacific countries included within the
TPP include Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Vietnam, Singapore, Chile, Brunei, and New Zealand. After a decade of negotiation, this economic policy is
exceptionally influential in developing countries among the global economy. International relations aim to lower trade barriers for partners of the TPP,
making it easier and more profitable for imports and exports to exchange between countries. Lower trade barriers, mainly reduced taxes and tariffs, are
expected to promote economic growth, support the creation and retention of jobs, enhance innovation, productivity and competitiveness, raise living
standards, reduce poverty, and enhance labor and environmental protections (Vincent 2014). This review thoroughly examines current environmental
policy, and outlays implications for policy–specific regulations included within the TPP to enhance the environmental conservation of habitat for
marine mammals. A well–known premise is that past behavior is the best indicator of future behavior. Thus, by examining the environmental policy of
past trade agreements, and

The World Is Blue By Sylvia Earle
Nikki Etchenique Dr. Harper Marine Biology November 24, 2014 The World is Blue Final Paper In 2009, Dr. Sylvia Earle wrote The World is Blue
to educate and alert the reader about human impacts on marine ecosystems. Through this book she conveys her passion and methodical arguments
concerning the importance of the conservation of the ocean, which encompasses approximately 80 percent of the earth's surface. Dr. Earle states "the
ocean touches you with every breath you take, every drop of water you drink, every bite you consume" (17). This statement emphasizes the
significance of the ocean, not only for marine life, but all life forms on earth. The book implies that currently in today's world, the conservation of the
ocean requires a global effort to reduce human damage from the past generations. Using facts gleaned from credible scientific resources, she defines
the problems of overfishing, bycatch, and pollution. By analyzing human impacts on marine ecosystems, Dr. Earle determines successful and
unsuccessful solutions to these problems and suggests various ways individuals can change their lifestyles to reduce impact on the environment as a
whole. One may find it difficult to imagine the world as it was a century ago. However, Dr. Earle informs us that with less than a quarter of the
population occupying the Earth, "many believed that the ocean could yield limitless quantities of fish, whales, and other marine wildlife" (30). Through
her book, she points out one problem

Atlantic And Southern Gulf Of America
Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus [Linnaeus, 1766]), have a distribution ranging in the Western Atlantic from the Gulf of Maine to the
northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM). In addition, their range may potentially extend into the southern GOM, the Lesser Antilles and southern Caribbean,
and from Brazil through southern Argentina (Smith, 1997). Atlantic croaker stock status is unknown (NMFS, 2012), although it is expected to be
below the maximum sustainable yield. The amount of Atlantic croaker harvested commercially has been cyclic, ranging from 1,100 metric tons (t) to
over 15,000 t per year, with recently estimated levels at approximately 9,000 t, with a value of approximately eight million US dollars (NMFS, 2012).
These fluctuations ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Atlantic croaker larvae have a peak in spawning from July through December and an estuarine recruitment peak in October–November (Cowan, 1988;
Ditty et al., 1988; Warlen and Burke, 1990; Barbieri et al., 1994a). Atlantic croaker spawn over a wide range of innercontinental shelf depths, i.e., 54 m
or shallower, with a portion of the population moving inshore towards the estuaries to complete spawning in the winter and early spring months
(Barbieri et al., 1994a, 1994b). Hydrologic variability at large and small spatial and temporal scales can greatly affect the numbers of Atlantic
croaker larvae able to successfully recruit to estuarine nursery grounds (Norcross, 1983; Shaw et al., 1988; Raynie, 1991; Raynie and Shaw, 1994).
Once in the estuary, lower water temperatures in the first winter decrease survival, as verified in both the field (Norcross and Austin, 1988; Hare and
Able, 2007), and laboratory (Lankford and Targett, 2001a, 2001b). Previous studies on Atlantic croaker age and growth have generally focused on the
Mid–Atlantic Bight (MAB) and South Atlantic Bight (SAB), with limited studies occurring in the GOM. These studies have utilized linear growth rate
models from otoliths aged using paired readers, and have found growth rates between 0.16 and 0.27 mm day–1 (Warlen, 1982; Thorrold et al., 1997),
while in the GOM growth rate was determined to be 0.19 mm day–1 (Cowan, 1988). Higher growth rates for larval Atlantic croaker during

The Problem of Overfishing
One of the growing issues that has been plaguing our marine habitats is the problem of overfishing. What this means is that we are taking fish
from the ocean, at rates that are far higher than the fish can replenish themselves, which is a problem because fish and other marine organisms are
very important for millions of people around the world. They are relied on because sometimes it is the only way to have access to a good source
of proteins and fatty acids throughout the day. The key for sustainable management revolves around the idea of the economics of the catch. What
this means is that we can maximize the fish that we obtain from the oceans while still allowing them to replenish year after year. The way that it
works is that fish have a different growth rate depending on where they lie in regards to their carrying capacity. When they are at their carrying
capacity they have a very low growth rate so this would be an ideal time to catch fish. The other ideal time to catch fish is when they are at half of
their carrying capacity because this is when they have the highest growth rate. If this was done, fisheries would be able to catch the same number of
individuals as the fish produced that year, while the population remained at half the carrying capacity. One way that we limit how many fish can be
caught is by imposing quotas and monitoring catch numbers. There are two problems with how it works now. The first is that in reality the fish
populations are

David Allan Overfishing
In comparison of David Allan's masterfully sculpted Overfishing of Inland Waters to Myers' vastly informative Rapid Worldwide Depletion of
Predatory Fish Communities, the two contrasting writing styles embodied in the journal entries are blazingly evident. While each article shares the
same postulation of mankind milking our oceans dry, the similarities stop there. One presents itself in circuitous manner and the other undeviating, not
slowed by the baggage of excess verbiage. Regardless of the authors' approach, each article contains largely similar evidence. The importance lies within
the information: not presentation. Exploring David Allan and his colleagues' scintillating article "Overfishing of Inland Waters" ("Overfishing") enriches
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
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

Jonathan Safran Foer Eating Animals Analysis
Eating Animals, written by Jonathan Safran Foer, explores the topics of factory farming and commercial fisheries. Focusing on by–catch and
slaughterhouses, Foer gives raw insight to conditions that animals live in at these farms. Using cultural meaning associated with food, humane
agricultural methods, and health risks, which permeate factory farming, Jonathan Safran Foer analyzes the way society values the food they eat. Foer
addresses crucial questions such as where the food comes from, how its produced, the environmental, and social and economical factors that eating
animals produces. Written when Jonathan Safran Foer found out his wife was pregnant, his objective was to know as much information available
regarding eating animals. With... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It stimulated the notion that animals could have character and individual personalities and it created the psychological foundation for the view that
some animals at least were entitled to moral consideration." (Foer 2.22). Although it is legal in forty–four states, eating your dog is considered taboo
and monstrous. Pigs, which have many similar cognitive skills of a dog, are considered a crucial part in an Americans diet. One of the arguments
against this is the immorality of eating companion animals however those who do not posses a dog still should not eat one through cultural eyes. The
second leading argument is to not eat animals with significant mental capacities, which would include pigs, cows, chickens, and various sea animals.
Sarah Groeneveld, author of Animal Endings: Species Necropolitics in Contemporary Transnational Literature writes "Animal crises such as factory
farming, scientific experimentation on animals, and species extinction reveal the urgency and relevancy of animal death to a moment in history when
concerns about the wisdom of current human practices toward the environment are at the center of many political, social and academic debates."
(Groeneveld.114) The taboo revolving around eating dogs and overall lack of concern of non domestic animals says a lot about the American

Human Consumption And Commercial Fishing Essay
Human Consumption and Commercial Fishing have led to a depletion of Cod stocks, specifically, the Atlantic Cod in the North Atlantic Region. The
ecological, social and economic implications this has on society is not only evident today, but poses long–term consequences as well. Wicked problems
are characterized by social complexity. (stakeholders, incomplete contradiction knowledge, opinions etc.) (Kolko, 2012) this issue may be considered a
wicked problem because the Atlantic cod remain a demand in human consumption and the commercial exploitation remains a factor in the depletion of
their stocks. The Interrelationship between consumers and fisheries is a very complex issue. Overfishing and exploitation of Cod remain one of the
major

Descriptive Essay On Fishing
My father and I have be going on an annual fishing trip since I was eight. Every summer, we would go out and sit for hours waiting for something
to bite. Last year my father made a poignant observation, he noted that in recent years there seemed to be less fish. He's been doing this trip since he
was my age and where he used to at least get some pull, he now has to wait nearly twice as long for anything. I've since come to realize that our ocean
is running out of fish. We are overexploiting a natural resource and doing nothing to stop it. The current large scalefishing operations are not
sustainable ecologically or economically.
large fish are disappearing from the ocean at alarmingly high rates. There has been a 90% decline in the top predator fish abundance in the world
between 1955 and 2000. Most industrial fishing techniques are overly aggressive to marine environments in that they attract an abundance of bycatch.
The three primary techniques are surface long–line Fishing where chains more than 100 kilometers long are floated in the ocean with thousands of
baited hooks, fish aggregating devices use long nets going down 300 meters that are left for days and just collect fish indiscriminately, finally and
perhaps the worst being bottom Trawling which involves a long heavily weighed net dragged across seafloor. Fish aggregating devices are too
indiscriminate in what kind of marine life they capture. They are often deployed with the intention of catching skipjack

The Effects Of Overfishing
For thousands of years, humans have been relying on the ocean of their living. In some areas along the coast, people's lives depend on the sea. People
living in those areas use fishing as their main business. They got many profits by this economy and they could live wealthily. However, the technology
has been improved so much that the fishermen use different techniques to catch the fish. This leads to getting them more money but on the other hand, it
causes over hunting. In some places, people have been overfishing with their equipment using new technology such as radar and sonar. People hunt for
huge profits; over time, they fish much deeper and catch them more rapidly. Some species have gone to extinction due to overfishing. However, in
Alaska, Alaskan fish are some of the least contaminated in the world, and the salmon population continues to thrive despite the yearly fishing.
In some regions, the marine animals are near extinction. For example, in the southeastern United States, there are plenty of sharks. However, due to
technology, fishermen used stronger equipment to catch the sharks. As a result, the number of sharks became so few and are near extinction.
The consequences of overfishing are not the only extinction of a single species; it also affects the entire ecosystem. When the sharks are caught, the
numbers of predators decreased day by day. Therefore, the population of the prey species became larger and unable to control. It

The Salmon Fisheries
In my hometown, a local diner serves "Honey dipped Salmon." They claim that the dish is prepared using a species of Salmon, called Chinook, which
is a product of the Alaska Salmon fisheries.
Since Chinook salmon is an anadromous specie, it is born in the fresh water, migrates to the ocean for 1–5 years and then returns to the Main–channel
Rivers to spawn. The female lays around 3,000–14,000 eggs that are successfully fertilized by the males, however the eggs are very brittle and can be
easily destroyed. Fortunately, enough hatch and survive in Alaska to ensure healthy stocks. After spawning, they typically die as they don't feed on
anything during their widespread migration and use up all the stored body fat for survival. ("CSSP", n.d.). As an example of their extensive migration,
we can look at "the Yukon River spawners that travel more than 2,000 river miles during a 60–day period to reach Canada". Their major populations
are located in Susitana, Taku, Copper, Kuskokwin, Nushagak river systems. The specie's returning numbers from their sprawled spawning migrations
had started declining in 2006, however they have significantly recovered now. (Wild explorer, n.d.)
The Chinook salmon is vastly sought after in Cook Inlet and Southeast Alaska by fishers because of its great value as a sport fish. The annual value of
sports industry in Alaska is about $500 million and the annual harvest looms around 170,000 fish. ("CSU", n.d.). However, to make thefisheries

Bycatch Overfishing
Signs of overfishing is the decrease in number of seawards animals based on the yearly data based. The fishing industry often responds to these signs
by moving to new areas to catch, and overtime it's might cost the same result as the initial result.
Bycatch is the situation when somebody target a specific animals to catch, but at the same time when they try to catch this animal it also cost the death
of others animal.
Ghost fishing is the lost or abandoned fishing gear that could trap and kill marine species.
Why is refined oil more hazardous to the marine environment than crude oil? Which is spilled more often? Because refined oil has higher percentage
of volatile parts that can possibly react to the things belong to the ocean and it can

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