Overfishing 101: How Ocean Fish Populations are Managed in the U.S.
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Animal Rights
Overfishing 101: How Ocean Fish Populations are Managed in the U.S.
posted by: Alicia L
NOTE: This is a guest post from Lee Crockett, Director of Federal Fisheries Policy at Pew Environment Group
This post is the second in a series, “Overfishing 101.” Read the first post here.
Fish are an essential component of life in the world’s
oceans, with the state of their populations serving as a bellwether of
the health of ocean life overall. Unfortunately, many species around
the world are in trouble.
oceans, with the state of their populations serving as a bellwether of
the health of ocean life overall. Unfortunately, many species around
the world are in trouble.
Pollution,
habitat destruction and overfishing (removing fish from the ocean
faster than they can reproduce) have impoverished our oceans. The United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported recently that nearly a third of the Earth’s fish populations are overexploited, depleted or recovering from depletion.
habitat destruction and overfishing (removing fish from the ocean
faster than they can reproduce) have impoverished our oceans. The United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported recently that nearly a third of the Earth’s fish populations are overexploited, depleted or recovering from depletion.
All too often, the discussion around the issue of overfishing has
been limited to a small group of stakeholders such as fishermen,
conservationists and scientists. To help open up this debate to the
broader public, I’ve developed a short series nicknamed “Overfishing
101.” Here are some of the basics of why all Americans should care
about how our ocean fish are managed.
been limited to a small group of stakeholders such as fishermen,
conservationists and scientists. To help open up this debate to the
broader public, I’ve developed a short series nicknamed “Overfishing
101.” Here are some of the basics of why all Americans should care
about how our ocean fish are managed.
Understanding Overfishing
Overfishing is a problem that affects the entire marine environment,
extending far beyond just the species being caught. For example, in the
Caribbean, depleted parrotfish numbers have been directly linked to the declining health of Caribbean coral reefs.
Parrotfish eat organisms such as algae that grow on corals, ingesting
bits of hard material in the process, which is excreted as white sand.
Without this species, however, algae would take over corals, killing
the tiny organisms.
extending far beyond just the species being caught. For example, in the
Caribbean, depleted parrotfish numbers have been directly linked to the declining health of Caribbean coral reefs.
Parrotfish eat organisms such as algae that grow on corals, ingesting
bits of hard material in the process, which is excreted as white sand.
Without this species, however, algae would take over corals, killing
the tiny organisms.
Today, 40 ocean fish populations managed by the U.S. government–including Caribbean parrotfish–are subject to overfishing. In New England, recent federal assessments found that 10 of 20 groundfish populations–species that live near the ocean floor, such as cod–are subject to overfishing. And nine populations in the South Atlantic–the
majority of which are types of snapper and grouper–are also suffering
from overfishing. To make matters worse, these are long-lived fish
that reproduce slowly, and populations would take decades to recover.
majority of which are types of snapper and grouper–are also suffering
from overfishing. To make matters worse, these are long-lived fish
that reproduce slowly, and populations would take decades to recover.
On the other hand, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS), the economic value of ending overfishing and rebuilding all of
our depleted U.S. fish populations could add up to $31 billion in sales and support 500,000 new jobs.
But to achieve the benefits of healthy fish populations, we must set
firm catch limits that are based on science, and those limits must be
enforced.
(NMFS), the economic value of ending overfishing and rebuilding all of
our depleted U.S. fish populations could add up to $31 billion in sales and support 500,000 new jobs.
But to achieve the benefits of healthy fish populations, we must set
firm catch limits that are based on science, and those limits must be
enforced.
While many fishermen understand and support the need to sustainably
manage fisheries, some within the industry balk at the limits necessary
to achieve sustainability. They have begun lobbying Congress to revise
the current laws and regulations. Weakening existing standards,
though, would impair the health of our marine ecosystems for decades to
come, making recovery harder and more expensive.
manage fisheries, some within the industry balk at the limits necessary
to achieve sustainability. They have begun lobbying Congress to revise
the current laws and regulations. Weakening existing standards,
though, would impair the health of our marine ecosystems for decades to
come, making recovery harder and more expensive.
For example, lax management of South Atlantic red snapper allowed
chronic overfishing for 50 years. This has reduced the breeding
population to 11-14 percent of what scientists consider a healthy
level. To reduce the number of red snapper taken, fisheries managers were forced to impose a moratorium, stopping all fishing for South Atlantic red snapper until the species makes measurable progress towards full recovery.
chronic overfishing for 50 years. This has reduced the breeding
population to 11-14 percent of what scientists consider a healthy
level. To reduce the number of red snapper taken, fisheries managers were forced to impose a moratorium, stopping all fishing for South Atlantic red snapper until the species makes measurable progress towards full recovery.
Weakening federal laws that govern the management of our ocean fish
would not only have implications for commercial and recreational
fishermen, but also countless others who depend on the bounty of our
oceans for a livelihood and for recreation.
would not only have implications for commercial and recreational
fishermen, but also countless others who depend on the bounty of our
oceans for a livelihood and for recreation.
In my next post, I’ll explore how U.S. ocean fish populations are
managed and why. And in subsequent parts of the series, we’ll examine
why good science is so important to rebuilding depleted fish
populations.
managed and why. And in subsequent parts of the series, we’ll examine
why good science is so important to rebuilding depleted fish
populations.
More about us
The Federal Fisheries
Policy Project leads efforts to ensure that Congress and the National
Marine Fisheries Service effectively implement the law to end
overfishing, rebuild depleted fish populations and protect ocean
ecosystems.
The campaign works closely with scientists,
policy makers, fishery managers, fishermen and conservation
organizations throughout the country to promote adequate funding and
support current fish conservation mandates.
To find out how you can help, please visit www.pewenvironment.org.
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