Correcting Destructive Fishing
Correcting Destructive Fishing
Your Name
______ College
Correcting Destructive Fishing
The water resource problem presented in the video at https://axiaecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/axia/sci275/multimedia/video/declinining_fish_stock.htm is the declining population of certain ocean-dwelling species of large fish like swordfish and tuna. According to Pauly (2003), overfishing results from booms in human populations, increases in the demand for fish as a nutritious food, improvements in commercial fishing technology, and global and national policies that fail to encourage the sustainable management of fisheries. Left unchecked, this problem could result in the eventual extinction of these fishes.
Damages to the aquatic ecosystem result from several of the outright destructive techniques used by modern fishermen. Cyanide fishing receives much attention from environmentalists, as does the dynamiting of coral reefs, but dredging and trawling need to be put under some restraints as well. Up to 90% of what lands in a commercial fishing vessel by way of dredging and trawling is discarded as bycatch (Worm, 2007).
Several pieces of legislation have been enacted world-wide to help reduce the problem of overfishing. The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) became effective in 1994 and is considered the constitution of the ocean, as its aim is to protect ocean resources; however, UNCLOS is only effective in dealings with international waters and has no effect on territorial waters (Axia, 2009).
The U.N. Fish Stocks Agreement, approved in 1995 and effective in 2001, was the first international treaty to regulate marine fishing. The ultimate goal of the agreement is long-term conservation and sustainable use of fish populations. The U.N. is considering legislation that will limit the number of fishing vessels in any fleet, and reduce that number over time (Axia, 2009).
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act makes nine separate U.S....
View Full Essay