User:Anikka110/sandbox

Overfishing poses a  huge threat to the oceans ecosystem as well as human society around the world. It is detrimental to different sea life populations as it both diminishes populations through the actual act of fishing and  the equipment used can be dangerous. It threatens human societies greatly, affecting various economies, as well as different cultures like the Pacific Islanders.

Overfishing

Overfishing is defined as when more aquatic wildlife is being caught then can successfully naturally replenish itself at the same rate it’s being fished. Overfishing is also closely related to what is known as bycatch. Bycatch is when an unwanted species of aquatic sea life is caught when fishing for a targeted species. Most of the time these unwanted species include different marine mammals such as seals and dolphins, other types of animals like turtles, or even different types of aquatic birds. Anywhere between 8 - 25% of total catches -up to 27 million tonnes - fall into this category. Both overfishing and bycatch are a serious threat to ocean populations due to the actual loss of fish and the effect that they have on the rest of the oceans creatures and ecosystems.

Effects and Threats of Overfishing

There are many problems and threats that come with overfishing. Overfishing is one of the main reasons for the decrease in populations in our oceans. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), if overfishing continues at its current rate, much of our fish supply will have been exhausted by 2048. Species including yellowfin tuna, swordfish, marlin, cod and halibut are caught at such an extreme rate that their populations are dangerously low; as a result they are even starting to be classified as near threatened on the extinction list.

When too many fish are taken out of the ocean it can create an imbalance that erodes the food web. This leads to losses of important marine life such as different species of sea turtles and corals. In contrast, some populations of smaller fish are increasing because of the sudden lack of predators - like larger fish and sharks. . The rise in  small fish populations leads fishermen to move to catching smaller fish,  as the small amount of larger fish are all  being caught by bigger corporations. This then makes it more difficult for larger fish populations to replenish themselves.

Another factor making it difficult for fish populations to regrow is the size of the remaining fish. The young of larger fish are more likely to survive adulthood but because of the lack large fish not as many young are able to survive adulthood. Over time, this changes the size of the remaining as well as how fish reproduce and the speed at which the fish are maturing.

Overfishing has effects on other sea life populations as well, not just fish. Many boats can cause  damage to sea life. Turtles have been found stranded near the Great Barrier Reef and this is believed to have been caused by boat strikes, poor health, disease, and entanglement. Another damaging characteristic of overfishing is the use of what is called "non-selective gear" such as nets or traps. Non-selective gear does not choose which species it catches and which it does not, anything can get scooped up in a net or caught in a trap. This type of gear will often remove herbivorous fish who eat algae - which effectively helps the aquatic ecosystem to stay balanced. Other fishing gear can damage coral reefs, different sea grasses, and other marine habitats, further damaging and affecting oceanic ecosystems.

The effects of overfishing go farther than just our oceans. It affects many human populations too. Today, more than 70% of all fish are being consumed, traded, and sold by societies around the world. Fish is one of the most highly ranked items of trade in the world, and fuels a $362 billion dollar industry. According to the United Nations, at least one fifth of humans around the world rely on fish as their natural source of protein. It is shown that people are consuming four times as much fish today as they were back in 1950.

Many people rely on the need for fishing for a job and many communities rely on fishing to support their economies. Currently, the demand for fish is increasing around the world. This means more businesses are dependent on the amount of fish being brought in, but, because of overfishing, the amount of fish available is decreasing. As the need for fishing continues, more companies are gaining enough money to allow them to upgrade their fishing boats. This provides them with more carrying capacity and consequently has become a problem. If a boat is capable of holding even more fish that simply fuels overfishing to an even greater extent. Today's world wide fishing fleet is estimated to have almost three times the capacity needed.

Overfishing is also made worse and harder to control because of illegal fishing. Experts estimate the profit that is made from illegal fishing is between $10 and $37 billion each year.

Effects of Overfishing on Pacific Islanders

Many coastal communities - like the Pacific Islands - greatly rely on fishing. Fishing supports their economy, is a main food source, and is integral to their culture. Because of overfishing, these communities are being heavily affected. About 11% of marine species in the Caribbean and the Pacific Island Regions are threatened with extinction. Many of those species are important food sources for the surrounding communities. Pacific Islanders rely so greatly on fish as a food source; eating about 50 kg of fish per person per year in contrast to people living in  continental areas. For example, Australians  only eat about 8 kg of fish per person per year. Many of the reef systems in the  Pacific islands are being affected by overfishing as well. About one third of the Pacific islands reef building coral species are being threatened with extinction. Included in those species are two vital reef building corals: the Elkhorn Coral (Acropora Palmata) and the Staghorn Coral (Acropora Cervicornis).  Both are classified as critically endangered. This is extremely worrisome, as without these two corals, the aquatic ecosystems they belong to would change drastically.