How overfishing causes pollution? To understand this question and its importance. First we have to be aware of overfishing. Overfishing means to capture too much fish from water bodies that remaining adults can not breed and sustain healthy population naturally. when fishing is done on commercial scale large amount of unwanted aquatic animals are also captured in it. This causes change in ecosystem and also destroying important marine life.
Overfishing is one of the major causes of marine life damage and climate change. Ocean generate more than half of oxygen along the globe and is thought to be one of the major factors for the survival of the world. So if we are destroying ocean it means we are destroying the world. So it is essential to protect aquatic animals and marine ecosystem.
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How Overfishing Causes Pollution?
85% of worlds fish resources are impacted by overfishing. If fish of same specie is captured at a time ,We remove particular member of marine life and this may change the rest of the ecosystem. For example we capture too much herbivorous fish during fishing continuously this may lead to increase algae in the water bodies. Increased level of algae can decrease the oxygen level and affect whole marine life.
On the other hand when fishing continue for long time at one place this may increase the plastic and other waste material in the ocean that make it difficult for aquatic animal to survive in such environment. Fishing gear and equipment that remain in the water bodies by fault also cause pollution in the water bodies.
Fishing vessels fuel is thought to be one of the biggest cause of pollution in marine. It contain hydrocarbons that affect the bottom dwelling which are the basic part of food chain.
Effects of Overfishing on marine life
As mentioned earlier overfishing is biggest threat to the survival of marine life. When fishing occur at unsustainable level , it disturb the life cycle of other marine animals. Here are some effects of aver fishing on marine life.
Target species depletion:
Overfishing is disturbing the natural balance of marine life by targeting the desired species again and again. Tuna, cod and salmon are most demanded fish species. Due to their demand in the market these species are captured at high rate. This cause the depletion of these species in the ocean. Tuna and salmon like species are essential for healthy environment of ocean because these are the source to transport food to surface of the ocean.
Depletion of these species effects the life of surface plankton. This may lead to decrease the level of oxygen and increase the level of carbon in the ocean.
Ecosystem imbalance:
Overfishing affect the predator-prey relationship and biodiversity. when same specie is captured this cause imbalance in marine prey and predators and affects the entire food chain. This may increase the number of predators in environment which is harmful for marine creatures.
Altered food chain:
By removing top predators and essential prey from environment, overfishing can alter the whole food chain. due to overfishing large predators are decreasing in the environment and number smaller specie is increasing.
Decline in Non-targeted Species:
Overfishing is not also cause to decline in target species How Overfishing Causes Pollution but it is also declining number of non target species. Non targeted species are captured with fish stock unintentionally. Trawling net catch all animals come to its way during fishing. So it means that non target species are also in danger due to overfishing.
Destruction of habitat:
Some fishing methods are destroying the marine habitat.How Overfishing Causes Pollution For example bottom trawling damage marine habitats like coral reefs, seagrass beds, and underwater structures and affect various marine creatures.
Disruption of Reproduction:
Overfishing can disrupt the reproductive cycle of aquatic animals. For example it can knock down the breeding and spawning habitats. Removal of adults which are are capable of reproduction also affects the marine life cycle.
Genetic Changes:
Population is decreasing due overfishing leads to loss of genetic biodiversity. Due to this less adaption occur and aquatic animals can not face climatic changes like global warming.
Increased Competition:
Overfishing limits the resources and How Overfishing Causes Pollution increasing the competition among species which in turn decreasing the population.
Causes of overfishing:
Major causes of overfishing are given below
Poor management:
Poor fisheries management is biggest cause of overfishing. Fishing regulations are insufficient in high seas. People do not follow rules set by management and continue overfishing. This increases the risk of marine life protection.
Unsustainable Fishing:
Unsustainable fishing include various methods that cause the destruction of fish. Bottom trawling, ghost gear, dynamite fishing and bycatch are some unsustainable fishing methods. Due to these methods fish and all aquatic animals are becoming endangered.
Illegal activities:
Fishing out of seasons, take more than allowed catch of fish and poaching are some illegal methods of fishing. These practices are major causes of overfishing.
Food Needs:
About 3 billion people depend on seafood for protein. Due to market value people catch more fish illegally and lead to overfishing. Population of world is increasing and fish demand is also increasing. This is also one of the major causes of overfishing.
Solutions to control overfishing:
- We can control overfishing by following the rules and regulations set by management.
- Protected areas should be created in marine which can provide breeding place to the fish and it help fish to breed in natural environment.
- Controlling human population can also help in solving overfishing problem.
- Selective fishing should be encouraged. Use fishing gear and equipment to capture specific species of fish, this will help to protect remaining marine life.
- Trawling practice is destroying sea bottom and its creatures. By stopping trawling practice we can control overfishing.
Strategies to Mitigate Pollution Caused by Overfishing
Here’s a table summarizing strategies to mitigate pollution caused by overfishing and promote sustainable fishing practices:
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Enforce Catch Limits and Quotas | Prevent overfishing and allow fish populations to recover by setting strict catch limits and quotas. |
| Promote Eco-Friendly Fishing Gear | Reduce bycatch and minimize habitat destruction with the use of eco-friendly fishing gear. |
| Establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) | Support ecosystem regeneration by creating areas where fishing is restricted or banned. |
| Use Technology for Monitoring | Implement satellite tracking, drones, and other technologies to monitor fishing activities. |
| Advocate for Stronger Regulations | Push for robust international and local regulations to tackle illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. |
| Support Sustainable Aquaculture | Invest in sustainable aquaculture practices to provide an alternative seafood source without depleting wild stocks. |
| Encourage Alternative Protein Sources | Promote the development and consumption of plant-based or lab-grown seafood. |
| Ensure Proper Waste Disposal | Prevent marine pollution by properly disposing of and recycling fishing gear and waste. |
| Participate in Ocean Clean-Up Initiatives | Join efforts to remove abandoned fishing gear and other pollutants from the ocean. |
| Launch Public Awareness Campaigns | Educate the public on the impact of overfishing and pollution, and advocate for sustainable seafood. |
| Involve Local Communities | Engage local communities in conservation efforts and decision-making for effective and culturally appropriate solutions. |
| Invest in Research and Innovation | Fund research to understand overfishing impacts and develop innovative mitigation solutions. |
| Foster Collaborative Efforts | Promote collaboration among governments, NGOs, scientists, and industry stakeholders to address overfishing and pollution. |
Conclusion
Overfishing is causing imbalance in ecosystem and also a problem for people who depend on fishing industry for food and income. due to overfishing marine environment is changing .Level of oxygen and carbon is also changing in the ocean. Algal blooms are increasing and reduce the level of oxygen in the ocean. Low level of oxygen make it difficult for animals to survive in this environment.
Overfishing is disturbing predator-prey relation. By capturing predators like sharks is increasing the number of smaller animals in the ocean. Plastic due to fishing practice is polluting the ocean and making it difficult for marine life to survive in polluted areas.
Genetic loss is increasing due to overfishing. So we should follow rules and regulations set by government so that we can protect marine biodiversity and benefits the world. Because overfishing is also causing climatic change and global warming that harmful for the survival of the world.