Effects of Over Fishing
August 27, 2011 | Nature
Many individuals and world organizations dedicate themselves both justifiably and correctly in protecting endangered species of wild life.
Conservationists strive continually to protect such creatures as Pandas, Elephants, Seals, Rhinos, and Whales It would seem that there is some kind of built in mechanism to protect our fellow mammals, but what about the most common occupants of the oceans and rivers; the fish?
The general public either is not aware or does not care that approximately 90% of all species of fish have simply vanished, and that all of the world’s oceans and rivers are undergoing great ecological changes; the reason?; over fishing!!
The Effects of Over Fishing.
Until fairly recent times it was deemed to be impossible for fish populations to go into decline. Each fish will lay millions of eggs, but many other ocean creatures feed on these eggs, and even humans enjoy eating caviar. The result is that very few of the eggs survive to reach the hatchling stage.
Of the ones which do survive many are caught by huge fishing fleets operating non size discriminating trawling nets; the result? Immature fish are discarded and cannot reproduce, thus fish stocks decline.
Certainly some regulations are in effect which govern the species and size of fish which can be caught, but often such regulations become self defeating. But all too often in targeting a specific species other fish types end up in the net which are subsequently discarded, and cannot reproduce.
This process is referred to as ‘bycatching’, and if the sheer number of fishing boats with huge nets are considered, each carrying out the practice, then it is little wonder that the fish population has been decimated to an extent which is approaching the unbelievable. This process is over fishing!