A CASE STUDY ON THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISRUDTION OF MARINE

BIODIVERSITY

This study is prepared for the course Environmental Science and Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL ARCHITECTURE AND MARINE ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES – JASAAN

BY:

ABANALES, CHRISTIAN JAY

CAINOY, GIELYN
GORRES, CHELSEA
NATIVIDAD, JEFF CARL
QUEROL, SOPHIA NICOLE
RAMIREZ, PRINCESS SHEENA
RUDINAS, KYLE
 University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines - Jasaan
Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Seaspiracy on Netflix demonstrates how millions of species living in the seas and oceans are affected by
human interaction with aquatic life. Large quantities of fish, animals, sea birds, and other aquatic life are
being slaughtered. This is destroying the marine ecosystem's biodiversity and putting it at risk of collapse.
Overfishing has had significant indirect environmental effects on coastal systems including coral reefs
and kelp forests. Overall, it appears that the effects of fisheries in a variety of marine ecosystems go far
beyond the collapse of exploited fish supplies.

Recognizing a problem is the first step in resolving it. Seaspiracy has exposed many of the concerns and
problems that affect marine life; now it is up to us to find answers. Many of the remedies, fortunately,
already exist. However, in order for these solutions to have the necessary impact to rescue marine life
worldwide, we must support them.

Proposed and practiced solutions already exist which is mentioned in this paper namely: Fish Swaps and
Fish Alternatives. It’s just a matter of disseminating the information and a lot of convincing to those people
who are not aware of the problem and the solution. Even for individuals who adopt a plant-based diet,
seafood can be a touchy subject. For unknown reasons, the ethics of killing fish have received less attention
than those of murdering a chicken or a cow. In fact, humans kill more fish than any other animal. A vegan
diet can help you lower your carbon footprint at home while also reducing your influence on the ocean.

While we may not have to dismiss them as the latter, we must at the very least see them as the former. For
the time being, just keep swimming by maintaining the discussion flow. Start by recommending the film
to your friends and family, and don't be afraid to have those difficult dinner table discussions. Seaspiracy
is a powerful reminder of the devastation that is occurring in our seas and oceans. Keep an eye out for
specific ocean protection initiatives.

ES 401 – CASE STUDY

 University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines - Jasaan
Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY I

FINDING AND APPROACH II
CONCLUSIONS AND RECCOMENDATIONS III
APPENDICES IV
REFERENCES V

ES 401 – CASE STUDY

 University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines - Jasaan
Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

I. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The 90-minute film by Ali Tabrizi begins as a nature documentary attempting to investigate whale
stranding, but quickly transforms into a trip into the impacts of commercial fishing. The documentary
attempts to expose the illicit fishing markets, which have a deeper, hidden system of corruption, slavery,
and fraud involving huge industry names and government backing, using concealed cameras and filming
in risky locales. Seaspiracy journeys from Asia to Europe and the United Kingdom, uncovering new
information on the industry while keeping a sense of urgency. The filmmaker also encourages people to
avoid eating fish and instead consume plant-based foods.

It may be impossible to stop eating fish entirely. This is one of the most delectable protein sources ever
discovered, and it is a staple of many foreign cuisines. Mark Palmer of the Earth Island Institute
demonstrates his deception. His argument for why his organization's "Dolphin Safe" emblem, which may
be displayed on the sides of tuna cans, has no meaning. "The world can be a harsh place at times," he says.
Annually, approximately 300,000 dolphins and whales are "accidentally" killed by fishermen during
fishing operations. Overfishing and dolphin slaughter on a regular basis in Japan may be more damaging
to the ecosystem than deforestation.

Hundreds of billions of fish are killed each year for human consumption. In addition to the huge
environmental consequences, eating fish has a number of health risks. Our worldwide thirst for fish is
putting immense pressure on marine ecosystems, but the negative repercussions of consuming fish do
not end there. The study Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Worldwide: Sources and Sinks,
published in 2011, revealed a stunning finding: the world's oceans are saturated with tiny plastic
microfibers that come from our clothing. Humans are most commonly exposed to the neurotoxic
substance methylmercury (MeHg) through fish. Marine seafood accounted for 82 percent of population-
wide exposure to MeHg in the United States, with fresh and canned tuna accounting for more than 40
percent. Inorganic mercury (Hg) emitted to the atmosphere by natural and human sources ends up in the
ocean, where microbes convert some of it to MeHg.

Farm-raised fish are no better. They eat wild-caught fish, and Tabrizi smells awful when he travels
undercover to a Scottish farm. Salmon are infested with lice and can transmit infections like chlamydia.
According to the graphs in the documentary, marine ecosystems will collapse by 2050 if humans continue
to overfish the world's oceans and seas at their current rate. Choosing the most sustainable fish (green)
and avoiding the least sustainable fish (red) requires a marine biology degree, according to the MCS's
Good Fish Guide. This is because understanding where and how the fish is caught is just as important as
understanding the species.

ES 401 – CASE STUDY

 University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines - Jasaan
Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

II. FINDINGS AND APPROACH

Two solutions were gathered namely, Fish Swaps and Fish Alternatives. Amy Rowe, Essex County Agent
for the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and her colleagues devised an innovative solution: a fish swap.
The transfer sounded like a no-brainer because they could exchange fish pound for pound, benefiting both
veterans and food-insecure residents.

The fish exchange provided a chance to promote the VETS program while also reducing the risk of
community illness. Depending on the species and where and how they were captured or produced, prawns
can be sustainable. When feasible, go for organic. Swap prawns for farmed oysters or rope-grown mussels,
which don't require any feed or pesticides and acquire what they need from the water. The wild Atlantic
salmon population is declining, and most farmed salmon has to be improved.

The better option is organic and Scottish ASC-certified farmed salmon. Replace salmon with farmed
Arctic char or farmed rainbow trout. Cod stocks in the United Kingdom are in horrible shape, while they
are healthy in Iceland and the Northeast Arctic. Replace cod with hake, which is currently an excellent
sustainable option. The species, location, and fishing methods all influence sustainability. Swap tuna with
mackerel caught by handline.

The other option which is the Fish Alternatives. Kip Andersen, the film's producer, is a well-known vegan
who also produced the prior documentary Cowspiracy and has put up a vegan meal planning subscription
service that can be found on the Seaspiracy website. Critics and even the filmmaker, Ali Tabrizi,
acknowledge that expecting the entire globe to cease eating fish is unreasonable, particularly in locations
and cultures where fish is a source of food and employment. That doesn't rule out the possibility of being
a part of the solution.

You can switch up your protein sources. Several delectable solutions will assist us in preserving the fish
in our oceans and making the myth of sustainable fishing a reality. Vegan tuna, for example, is a Good
Catch delicacy that and tastes quite similar to the real thing. Another intriguing concept that is gaining
traction is cell-based fish, which is worth trying. This technology uses animal cells to manufacture protein
without using the animal itself. San Diego-based BlueNalu is focusing on creating fish from cells. It is
still in the works but keep an eye out for it since it will be available shortly.

ES 401 – CASE STUDY

 University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines - Jasaan
Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Fish is widely regarded as an important component of a healthy, well-balanced diet. Fish are high in
Omega-3s and are considered a great source of protein. The praise for fish seems to be growing by the
day. However, we become more aware of issues such as fish factory farms, fish contamination and
overfishing,

Mercury pollution in fish meat is one worry, but ingesting plastic particles is becoming increasingly
common. If you don't want to eat plastic with your seafood, the first reasonable step is to eliminate fish
from your diet. While there may not be a practical cure for poisoned fish at this time, this discovery
provides us a crucial lesson about the pollution karma cycle.

Fortunately, a growing variety of nutritious plant-based alternatives are available that not only taste good
but also help the environment. More people are questioning their fish consumption and the impact of
their diet on animals, the environment, and their health. The increased demand for fish-free alternatives
reflects this.

Governments, non-governmental organizations, and companies are all working to limit dangerous and
unsustainable fishing methods. Regional fishery management organizations, WTO talks on reducing
damaging fishing subsidies, national government-imposed closed seasons, and industry-led sustainable
fishing certification programs are among these methods.

A more realistic and sensible strategy would be to identify and address issues in the fishing and
aquaculture industries, build well-managed marine protected areas, and treat fishing communities fairly,
working with them to protect their long-term interests and promote sustainable development. This will
necessitate collaboration between governments, fishing companies, research organizations, non-
governmental organizations, and consumers.

Many countries have made progress in recent years by restricting bycatch, establishing fish welfare
regulations, and providing fishermen with the resources they need to catch fish sustainably. There's also
the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in 2021, when a goal of preserving 30% of seas by 2030.
This might include creating new marine protected areas to protect fishing stocks and wildlife, as well as
decreasing carbon emissions and preventing the introduction of more plastic. We appear to be on the
right track; we simply need to find the right wave to get there.

ES 401 – CASE STUDY

 University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines - Jasaan
Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

IV. APPENDICES

FIG. 1: MODEL OF CONSUMERS’ ROLE IN ECO LABELLING

TABLE 1. MEDIAN AND INTERQUARTILE RANGE (25TH–75TH PERCENTILE) OF

NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF SEAFOOD ALTERNATIVES VS CONVENTIONAL
PRODUCTS LAUNCHED IN THE GLOBAL MARKET
ES 401 – CASE STUDY
 University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines - Jasaan
Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

V. REFERENCES

Schartup, A. T., Thackray, C. P., Qureshi, A., Dassuncao, C., Gillespie, K., Hanke, A., & Sunderland, E. M.
(2019). Climate change and overfishing increase neurotoxicant in marine predators. Nature, 572(7771),
648-650.

Boukid, F., Baune, MC., Gagaoua, M. et al. (2022). Seafood alternatives: assessing the nutritional profile of
products sold in the global market. Eur Food Res Technol 248, 1777–1786 A. Retrieved June 15, 2022,
from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35317084/

Gutierrez, A., & Thornton, T. F. (2014). Can consumers understand sustainability through seafood eco-
labels? A US and UK case study. Sustainability, 6(11), 8195-8217.

Sustainable Jungle. (2021). Seaspiracy: 5 takeaways from this hard-hitting documentary. Sustainable
Jungle. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://www.sustainablejungle.com/sustainable-living/seaspiracy-
review/#item%203

Elizabeth Batt, & Batt, P. B. E. (2021). Seaspiracy's unpalatable truths. Dolphin Project. Retrieved June
15, 2022, from https://www.dolphinproject.com/blog/seaspiracys-unpalatable-truths/

Good, K. (2021). Do You Eat Fish? You Could be Eating Plastic. One Green Planet.
https://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/how-plastic-from-our-clothing-is-ending-up-in-fish/

Gattuso, R. (2019, March 19). The Swap-a-Fish Program That Traded Tilapia for Seafood Contaminated by
Agent Orange. Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/passaic-river-cleanup-fish-swap

Sivertsvik, M. (2021). Should We Stop Eating Fish. Journal of Aquatic Food Product Technology, 30(5),
497-497.

ES 401 – CASE STUDY