Running Head: OVERFISHING

Effects on Overfishing World Wide

OVERFISHING
Effects on Overfishing World Wide
Overfishing is the process of depleting the fish stock in any body of water to the
edge of extinction from too much fishing. Overfishing is usually defined into three
different categories. The three major types of overfishing are ecosystem overfishing,
recruit overfishing, and growth overfishing. Ecosystem overfishing is considered the
most popular type of over fishing. It involves the process of the larger predatory fish
being fished out leaving the smaller fish in abundance disrupting the balance of the
ecosystem. Recruit overfishing is when the adult fish are reduced dramatically, which
greatly affects the offspring rate; without the adult fish no offsprings can be produced.

The last one is growth overfishing which is when the fish are caught smaller then the size
they should be (2010. Overfishing of the Ocean,). If overfishing is allowed to go the
way it is going now, all the fish will be caught by the year 2048(2010. "Overfishing of
the Ocean").
There is one fish that has been prized for not only good eating but also for being
the number one fighting sport fish. This fish is called the Bluefin tuna. The Bluefin tuna
is close to the top of the food chain with very little predators. This fish used to be in great
abundance but became a popular fish to catch in the late 1950s because of their
impressive fight and endurance. Some fishermen actually thought the fish to be a
nuisance because of the damage they caused to fishing gear. It wasnt until the 1970s
and 80s that the tuna demand soared. During this time sushi markets developed and
spread which greatly increasing the price of the Bluefin tuna. The Bluefin tuna became
highly prized and led to a dramatic increase in fishing industries, which resulted in the
plummet of Bluefin tuna population (2013. Overfishing causes Pacific Bluefin).

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In just a few years the Bluefin tuna population dropped 96 percent, almost to the
brink of extinction. It was in 1981 when someone finally realized what was happening to
the Bluefin tuna population. The International Commission for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) attempted to stop the decline of the Bluefin tuna population by
banning the fishing of the Bluefin tuna for a season and closing the Gulf of Mexico. In
1991, ICCAT reported again and said that the stock of Bluefin tuna was stable but not
recovering well. They took further restrictions and reduced the amount of Bluefin tuna
that could be harvested, and increased the size limit of the tunas to a minimum of 73
inches. Even after all these restrictions the Bluefin tuna population still remained below
sustainable levels. In 1998, ICCAT adopted the rebuilding plan in hopes the stock could
be sustainable by 2019 (2013. Overfishing causes Pacific Bluefin).
According to National Geographic the big fish stocks have decreased 90 percent
since 1950. Within just 50 years we have rapidly reduced our large fish population to
only 10 percent. This report wasnt just for the United States either this was reported
worldwide. This dramatic depletion could affect more then just the future of the fish it
could also have a great effect on our oceans ecosystem. A study was performed on a
variety of long line fishing boat. Where in the past they caught 10 fish ever 100 hooks,
now they are lucky to catch one fish every 100 hooks (2003. Big-Fish Stocks Fall 90
Percent). Fisheries depend on catching fish for their livelihood. We rely on fisheries for
the fish supply in our stores and our livelihood. If the fisheries are not regulated though it
could have an irreversible affect and devastate the oceans ecosystem resulting in the
collapse of all fisheries.

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Overfishing may seem like a small problem to you if you dont eat seafood;
youre wrong! If something isnt done now to stop overfishing it could have an
irreversible affect on our planet. Without a healthy ecosystem the system will collapse.
Just recently there was a study on the Great Barrier Reef showing that there was a huge
decrease in herbivore fish, which keeps the reefs at a sustainable amount of algae. Algae
are not bad when it is at a sustainable amount. Coral actually needs a small amount of
algae to survive. Algae can become harmful to coral though when it is over abundant.
There is a certain kind of fish that rapidly speeds up the process of algae growth. It is
called the Damselfish. Damselfish are these small yellow fish that make yards at the
bottom of reefs and make a patch of algae on top of the coral. They suck on little polyps
until they die and once they die the algae grow on top of it (2009. Tiny Damselfish May
Destroy). With the help of the damselfish the algae take over the coral and can almost
suffocate it. Reef dwelling grouper love Damselfish. These groupers are being overfished
and allowing the Damselfish to thrive; thus increasing the amount of algae in our oceans.
If algae are allowed to thrive in our ocean not only could coral be affected but also our
whole ecosystem. It is said that if we keep on this track of overfishing the oceans will
collapse within this generation. We cannot forget that our oceans cover 71 percent of the
Earths surface. If the oceans ecosystem collapsed it could affect our planets ecosystem all
together.
Can you imagine going the Great Barrier Reef to view one of the most beautiful
reefs in the world, and once you get there you find out the reef has died off. What if you
spent a lot of money to go on a cruise expecting to see beautiful beaches and instead you
see green algae infested ocean water? You would be very upset and angry I am sure. The

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top vacation spots are usually found at beaches around the world. If proper measures are
not taken all these nice vacation spots around the world could collapse, causing a chain
reaction worldwide. The worlds stock markets would collapse not only because the fish
markets crashing, but also the tourist market. Without the Great Barrier Reef there
wouldnt be as many tourist traveling to Australia. If the fish population collapsed the
algae would be able to spread throughout the ocean. Can you imagine swimming in
algae? No one would be going to the beaches anymore. If you dont care about fish
hopefully you care about our beautiful world and how it could not last without fish. You
could not go on vacations to the beaches and expect to see beautiful beaches or swim in
crystal clear water. So if you care about your beach vacations, help to control our fish
populations.
Research shows that if fishing industries keep overfishing they will deplete the
worlds fish population by 2048(Overfishing. 2014). That is only 34 more years away.
Imagine the fishing industry collapsing within our lifetime. If something isnt done soon
to fix this problem, all of our large fish stocks will be depleted down to nothing.
Irreversible consequences could haunt our future generations and us. We were able to
bring the Bluefin tuna population back from the brink of extinction to a sustainable level
in the past. Why could we not do this for all the large fish stocks? It takes everyone
working together to repair the overfishing we have done in the oceans and to change the
worlds ocean fisheries. If we do not choose our decision wisely it could be the end to our
beautiful oceans and what lies within them. We need everyone working together to be
able to preserve our oceans ecosystems before its to late and we lose everything.

OVERFISHING
References
(2010)."Overfishing of the Ocean" The essay is on sharkfinning and the effects it has on

the ocean. It also gives information about overfishing and the depletion of certain
species... In WriteWork.com. (2014).
http://www.writework.com/essay/overfishing-ocean-essay-sharkfinning-andeffects-has-ocean
(2013). Overfishing causes Pacific bluefin tuna numbers to drop 96%. (2014).
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/jan/09/overfishing-pacificbluefin-tuna
Overfishing -- National Geographic. (2014).
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-overfishing/
(2003). Big-Fish Stocks Fall 90 Percent Since 1950, Study Says. (2014).
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0515_030515_fishdecline.html
(2009). Tiny Damselfish May Destroy A Caribbean Reef. (2014).
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111743524