One of these impacts is bycatch, or the removal or non-target species, due to unsustainable fishing methods such as demersal trawling.At least 40% of global catch is estimated to be bycatch and has been linked to a decline in population of large marine species, including the hammerhead shark. Leatherback turtles are likely to become extinct in the next 5 – 30 years with the main cause being pacific long line fisheries, designed to catch tuna. However, a large proportion of bycatch is believed to be unreported as it is discarded overboard to avoid fines once the vessel reaches shore which can stop effective conservation and designations in the areas in greatest need of protection. Bycatch has a major impact on marine ecosystems and will increase as the fishing industry grows.
Unsustainable fishing methods are also a major cause of habitat destruction, the most damaging being deep-sea trawling (figure 1) that tears up the sea bed which kills a range for species including coral and sea grass. This can also have an indirect effect as the disturbance of the sea bed causes a decline in photosynthesis by the removal or green sea plants and suspended particles, created by trawling, cause oxygen levels to fall making areas of the ocean uninhabitable to certain marine species. Trawling has been linked to the destruction of 30-50% of the coral along the Norwegian continental shelf and was the main reason for the Røst reef becoming a no take zone in 2002 with other nations protecting habitats on the sea bed.
Abandoned fishing nets has created the issue of ghost fishing which is when marine organisms become trapped in unused fishing gear. Not only does this account for 10% of marine debris, but each net can catch anywhere between 30-40 individuals included the Leatherback turtle. A positive feedback mechanism is also created as trapped organisms can act as bait for the apex predators, including rare shark species that can put them at greater risk.
Consumers have the ability to reduce these impacts by buying sustainable fish or cutting fish from their diet altogether. If consumers wish to buy fish they should purchase from the MCS sustainable fish list (some of which can be seen in figure 2) and look for the MSC logo on the packaging. Overall the fishing industry is unsustainable and this needs to change to protect the oceans. Personally, I feel the only 'sustainable method' is to stop fishing as there are many scientific studies showing we don't actually need to eat fish. If fish populations are going to recover, we need to stop eating them.
Abandoned fishing nets has created the issue of ghost fishing which is when marine organisms become trapped in unused fishing gear. Not only does this account for 10% of marine debris, but each net can catch anywhere between 30-40 individuals included the Leatherback turtle. A positive feedback mechanism is also created as trapped organisms can act as bait for the apex predators, including rare shark species that can put them at greater risk.
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| Figure 2 - A list of the most and least sustainable fish to buy (activation.com) |
Consumers have the ability to reduce these impacts by buying sustainable fish or cutting fish from their diet altogether. If consumers wish to buy fish they should purchase from the MCS sustainable fish list (some of which can be seen in figure 2) and look for the MSC logo on the packaging. Overall the fishing industry is unsustainable and this needs to change to protect the oceans. Personally, I feel the only 'sustainable method' is to stop fishing as there are many scientific studies showing we don't actually need to eat fish. If fish populations are going to recover, we need to stop eating them.
Bibliography
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Activation. (2016). Fish: The Farmed v. Wild Debate, from activation.com. Retrieved October 1 2018. https://www.activationproducts.com/blog/farmed-fish-wild-fish-debate/
Australian Government. (2018). Trawling. Retrieved October 1, 2018, from Australian Fisheries Management Authority: https://www.afma.gov.au/fisheries-management/methods-and-gear/trawling
Buhl-Mortensen, P., & Buhl-Mortensen. (2018, Febuary 27). Impacts of Bottom Trawling and Litter on the Seabed in Norwegian Waters. Frontiers in Marine Science. Retrieved October 1, 2018, from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2018.00042/full
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Roach, J. (2002, November 2). Seafood May Be Gone by 2048, Study Says. Retrieved from National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2006/11/seafood-biodiversity/
United Nations. (2009, May 6). Ghost nets hurting marine environment. Retrieved from FAO: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/19353/icode/
WWF. (2010). Factsheet: Bycatch. Retrieved October 1, 2018, from panda.org: http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/bycatch_factsheet.pdf
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