Declining Fish Stock

Declining Fish Stock

Option 1

Kate Dabowich

SCI/275

Scott Rosecrans

March 17, 2013

The decline of fish stock in the ocean continues to be an issue that needs attention from commercial fishermen, science, the government, educators, and the public. Over fishing is a major problem that has depleted larger fish species in the ocean. Berg highlights that because there no legal laws in open water, the ocean is vulnerable to overuse and depletion. In addition, larger predatory fish are part of the food chain ( Berg, 2011). This paper will provide a management and sustainability plan that might meet the needs of commercial fisherman as well as reduce declining fish stock.

Issues such as unintentionally catching unpopular sea life that can make a profit for fishermen or bycatch, are dumped back at sea to most likely die. The result is more depletion of marine species. For instance, whales, sea turtles, dolphins, and other sea life are tangled in modern fishing equipment and become harmed or die. One plan to reduce bycatch is to develop fishing equipment to reduce bycatch. Collaboration with newer technology, fishermen, and federal laws can help. Another plan that can renew declining fish stock is to promote the development of large fish farms along costal waters or deep-water ocean ranches. There are pros and cons to these types of farms. For example, fish farms produce more waste that pollutes water and other living things because of highly concentrated areas. Where as deep water ocean ranches may not harm coastlines, they do not have pollution-restricting oversight related to fish farms. (Berg, 2011). Government funding for additional research associated with farming can help alleviate the cons.

The consequences for fishing year round have resulted in depleting fish stock greatly. Fisherman Libby suggests because of year around fishing there is not much fish left in the spring and the spawning cycle is broken. Researchers came to the...