ABOUT BAD FISHING METHODS
……Avoid using Pesticides and Antibiotics
PART 1
FISH is a popular protein for many people, especially health-conscious consumers. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, fish makes up about 17 percent of the world's protein intake. In islands and coastal communities, it goes as high as 70 percent.
The fishing industry involves catching, processing, and selling fish for commercial or recreational purposes.
Fish plays a critical role in our nutrition and food security. Billions of people worldwide rely on food from the ocean as a significant part of their protein. Furthermore, fishing is also a source of income for many people globally. Commercial fishing and Aquaculture are two primary fishing methods for catching the fish we consume.
This involves taking fish, marine species, and other resources from the oceans, lakes, and water bodies to market them. People can undertake this type of fishing on a small scale with small fishing vessels and little mechanization or on a large scale with deep sea fishing vessels and sophisticated mechanization.
The types of fish caught for commercial fishing fall into two categories: demersal (fish living at the bottom of the water or sometimes mid-level) and pelagic (fish living in the open sea close to the surface). You can sometimes find both categories of fish in coastal regions.
People employ various practices for commercial fishing. These practices include bottom trawling, longline fishing, and so on. Sadly, some of these fishing methods significantly threaten the environment.
Over the years, Aquaculture, also known as Aquafarming, has increased in popularity to yield more fish and meet the growing demand for seafood.
The World Resources Institute (WRI) predicts that farmed fish and shellfish production will increase by 133% by 2050 to meet the growing demand7.
Aquaculture involves the cultivation of freshwater or marine organisms, especially shellfish or food fish, under controlled conditions.
There are two main types of aquaculture: marine aquaculture and freshwater aquaculture. Marine fish farming is typically done in tanks on land or net pens in water. Freshwater farming takes place in ponds or manmade systems.
Aquaculture is considered sustainable but can also risk destroying ecosystems and natural habitats. Nutrient build-up from farming fish is one issue that affects the environment. These nutrients (dead fish, faeces, and rotten food) accumulate as waste, causing oxygen depletion.
The added use of pesticides and antibiotics also further damages the marine environment.
While the fishing industry contributes to providing fish for commercial purposes and a source of income for individuals, it has also affected marine conservation, including fish populations, habitat degradation, and water pollution, amongst other issues.
Research reveals that if the fishing industry continues on this path, wild-caught seafood will not exist by 2048 (although this claim has been disputed by many, the decline isn't).
Bottom trawling is a popular fishing technique that involves pulling fishing nets across the ocean floor to catch fish at the bottom of the sea. This fishing technique destroys coral reefs, sponges, and oysters that comprise the marine habitat. Ultimately, this practice is harmful to wild fish populations.
Research reveals that bottom trawling takes out around 5% to 25% of an area’s seabed life with just one run.
In addition, many pollutants that have settled into the sediment get reintroduced into the food chain.
The United Nations estimates that bottom trawling accounts for 95% of ocean damage. The United Nations General Assembly also recommends temporarily banning the practice of bottom trawling on high seas.
Blast fishing and cyanide fishing can harm surrounding natural environments and are illegal in many areas. While blast fishing involves using explosives, cyanide fishing involves using cyanide to catch fish. These techniques may be lucrative for fishermen but destructive to coral reefs and marine life. With marine habitats destroyed, the fish stocks of many target species may begin to decline.
Ghost fishing is one occurrence that can be a threat to marine life. Ghost fishing occurs when trawler nets or fishing gear gets discarded at sea but drifts to capture wild fish. This fishing gear can capture many animals, including wild fish and birds that swoop into the water to find prey.
According to a case study, lost fishing gear could become a ghost pot attracting sea turtles. Sadly, these sea turtles can get into the pot but would find it difficult to get out. In Georgia, a single ghost pot contained 130 dead sea turtles.
OVERFISHING
Another major impact of fishing industries is overfishing. This refers to removing target fish species at a higher rate than the fish stocks replenish themselves. Overfishing can occur in various water bodies, including lakes, ponds, oceans, and high seas.
Ultimately, this puts heavy fishing pressure on wild fish populations. In addition, sustained overfishing can distort marine ecosystems.
According to FAO reports in 2020, in 2017, 34% of the world's fish stocks were overfished.
Overfishing has also led to the threat of many species. Some of these species are on the “IUCN Red List” and face the risk of extinction. These fish include Atlantic cod, Atlantic Salmon, Bluefin tuna, Red snapper.
Bycatch refers to fish or other marine animals caught unintentionally while harvesting particular fish species. Fishing practices like longline fishing are a major culprit of bycatch. As lines are employed in the open ocean, sea turtles and other aquatic animals are prone to capture.
These sea turtles go for the bait on the lines, and the hooks get lodged in their mouths, preventing them from reaching the sea surface.
Marine mammals like birds flying over the open seas get attracted to the bait and ensnared in the fishing gear, causing them to drown. Other fishing practices like bottom trawling can also lead to increased bycatch. The number of animals killed unintentionally can ultimately impact the marine food web.
Look out for the last part of the article in the next column.
Have a blessed weekend!