Fishing Resources. - ppt download

Description

Fisheries: Concentration of a particular aquatic species used for commercial harvesting 3rd major food producing system
3rd major food producing system.
How we fish Commercial fishing industry uses satellite positioning equipment, sonar, massive nets, spotter planes, and factory ships.
Most detrimental to ocean floor habitats.
Purse-seine fishing Large purse-seine net is placed around a school of fish and closed like a purse string.
Catches by-catch (non-target species) .
Each net hangs as much as 50 feet below surface and is up to 34 miles long; almost anything that comes in contact becomes entangled. huge threat to biodiversity. Causes overfishing.
Pros: Smaller harvests. Cons: Voluntary compliance. Difficulty monitoring fleets. More longlining.
Protecting Marine Biodiversity
Challenges It is hard to enforce the following laws because of the vast expanse of open ocean
International Waters (Law of the Sea)
Idea that everyone has access to certain areas (national parks, the ocean), but if a problem arises, no one group will take responsibility. Examples include: Aquifer depletion by local farmers. Great Pacific Garbage Patch in Pacific.
CITES Global Treaty on Migratory Species (Bonn Convention): target to preserve/conserve migratory species through range and across borders International Convention on Biological Diversity: Reminder that species should be sustainable.
US Marine Mammal Protection Act: says that one cannot take marine animals out of US water, nor import marine mammals and marine mammal products into the US. Dolphins, whales, porpoises, seals, sea lions, walruses, manatees, sea otters, polar bears (covers 217 species) US Whale Conservation and Protection Act of 1976: Protects whale populations due to overexploitation.
It’s on the website if you need an extra copy.