Finding the motivation to stop over-fishing

Re: Satellites show fishing’s startling footprint — Feb. 23

The vast over-consumption of fish in the oceans has long been known. With new technologies emerging, it is bringing to light the true extent of the damage we are afflicting. Researchers and environmentalists have long been aware that the rate at which we are extracting fish from our oceans is unsustainable.

As an example, we watched the collapse of the Canadian cod fisheries in 1992, which to this day has rendered the Atlantic cod a vulnerable species.

There is a clear message in response to the data obtained by Boris Worm. We are overfishing our planet and we, as a species, have the responsibly to take action before a global collapse of marine communities occurs.

I agree that automatic identification system (AIS) information is also valuable in its ability to better express the level of fishery exploitation to the public. Currently, many of those who have the power to make a difference are unaware of the pressing issue.

Technologies such as AIS could facilitate improved monitoring practices which, in turn, could allow for a better understanding, necessary for improving fishing policy.

We have the research available to identify unsustainably fished areas and the technology to identify the citizenry of fishers who are more intensely exploiting the oceans. What we require is the motivation of citizens and governments to make the overharvesting of fish a primary concern.

Eden Morrissey

New Dundee