If fishing is harming oceans, shouldn't we stop fishing?
NO. For thousands of people fishing represents their culture and their livelihood. Not to mention fish is an extremely healthy choice for you and your family. In the past, fishermen have fished the world's oceans without destroying the delicate ecosystem. How did they do this? By fishing sustainably. If we want fishing to survive we must go back to these ways and protect the ocean and the life living in it.
Which Commercial Fishing Practice is Most Sustainable?
Fishing is no longer hook & line or net. However, not every method of fishing is good for marine life and habitat - in fact, many modern fishing practices have adverse affects on our oceans. Fishing has become too efficient, and this efficiency is making overfishing hard to avoid. But consumers have the power to choose the way we want our fish to be caught by supporting fisheries who use the most sustainable methods, the question that we are left with now is which methods should we encourage, and which methods should we eliminate.
Green = Sustainable/ Best Option Yellow = Good Alternative/Limit consumption Red = Worst/Avoid as much as possible
Green = Sustainable/ Best Option Yellow = Good Alternative/Limit consumption Red = Worst/Avoid as much as possible
Types of Commercial Fishing Long Lining Bottom Trawling Mid-water Trawling Purse Seine Aquaculture Hook & Line Dredges Harpooning |
Description Employs a central fishing line that can be up to 50 miles long strung with differnet sized hooks at even intervals. When a net (some as large as a football feild) is dragged across the ocean floor to catch animals living in the mud or sand. Net fishing in the pelagic zone (isn't near the ocean floor). Net has a cone shaped body usually made of four panels. Similar to bottom trawling. Establishes a large wall of netting that incircles a large group of fish, then fishermen pull the bottom of the netting closed to trap fish. The farming of fish and shellfish either on land or in a body of water. Oftentimes these species are genetically modified The traditional fishing practice using a long rope with a hook attached that catches fish one by one. Uses a scoop made of a heavy steel frame that is towed along the bottom of the sea by a boat in shallow seas of fresh water. Uses a long spear like instrument to catch large fish by attaching to the animals skin through a sharp point. |
Pros The deep set hooks enable fisherman to catch deep sea fish, and many unwanted species are still alive when caught so they can be released. Able to catch a wide variety of animals, along with ones that live under the sea bed which are often hard to catch (mussles, clams, oysters, etc.) Doesn't destroy the ocean floor or benthic ecosystems like that of bottom trawling. Good for trying to catch certain kinds of animals, and usually does not affect habitats. Reduces pressure on the stock of wild species and allows populations to recover from over fishing. Also with growing populations aquaculture is a realiable food source. Doesn't destroy ecosystems or result in significant bycatch, and can support small local fisheries. Efficient way of getting a large amount of desired product. Like hook and line, focuses on one fish at a time. No by-catch because it goes one at a time. |
Cons Large numbers of birds, fish, and animals can unintentionally die at the end of the long line hooks. Destroys the ocean floor by tearing up habitats. And also results in high levels of bycatch which is bad for the survival of many species. Results in huge numbers of by-catch and is easy to over fish. Has a large number of bycatch rates and can easily deplete a species if not monitored closely enough. Can transfer and amplify disease in wild populations. Pollutes water system with antibiotics and other chemicals. Can compromise gene pools if farmed fish are breed with wild fish Fishermen can't get mass product, and it's not as time efficient as other fishing practices. Results in significant bycatch, increases turbidity (haze), and destroys benthic (bottom of the sea/ocean) ecosystems Often used to catch whales for their meat. Focuses on larger species of fish which are more at risk of extinction. |
The key to any fishing practice is to allow fish to continue growing. Unlike mammals, fish grow throughout their lives - the bigger they are the more eggs they can lay helping the population to survive. In order to protect fish populations, small fish need to have the opportunity to grow large and lay large amounts of eggs.