Marine Resources: Fisheries Management Page 100

Commercial Fishing Facts - Around 200 million people worldwide make their living by catching, processing, or selling fish - Each year, over 100 million tons of fish are eaten worldwide, acting as the main source of protein for 2.5 billion people - How, where, and what we fish has to be managed to ensure that we do not run out of this resource.

Fishing in the United States - In the US, we have an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that extends 200 miles out to sea - Within the EEZ, only U.S. boats are permitted to fish. - The creation of the EEZ in 1977 increased the number of fish caught to nearly double our fishing need.

Fishing Worldwide - In addition to the US, around 180 other countries now have EEZ’s, increasing their fishing capacity as well. - China’s fishing fleet is the largest in the world, with over 450,000 fishing vessels, around 1/3 of the world’s fishing vessels. - The European Union (EU) has vessels that are 40% larger than necessary, an issue that may encourage overfishing.

Incidental Catch or “Bycatch” - Bycatch is the term for species caught accidentally while people are fishing for other species. - Bycatch makes up about 25% of all marine fisheries catches and are discarded. - Shrimp fisheries are one of the most notorious for bycatch – each year they produce 9.5 million tons of bycatch. - In the Gulf of Mexico, 1 pound of shrimp results in 10.3 pounds of bycatch.

More Bycatch - Bycatch can also be fish or shrimp that do not meet set size limits. - For example, in Alaska alone, around $30 million worth of halibut and salmon is discarded each year because it is not large enough for fishermen to keep and sell.

Managing Take Fisheries Management Plan – a plan put together by NOAA that judges the need of each fish species to be managed, conserved, or fully protected based on data.

Fisheries Management Zones Marine Protected Areas – versatile management tools that can be used to help conserve marine natural and cultural resources, and can be an integral part of an ecosystem approach to management Marine Reserves - A marine reserve is an area of ocean and shore that is protected under the Marine Reserves Act. Marine reserves allow the recovery of marine life to a natural state and provide areas for scientific study. Some fish species can be taken. Fishery or No-Take Reserves – A special area within a marine reserve where no fishing can occur.

Other Fisheries Methods Aquaculture – the growing or farming of animals and plants in the water environment Mariculture – the growing or farming of animals and plants in the marine environment Monoculture – raising a single species of fish Polyculture – raising more than one species of fish Around 25% of all fish consumed is “farmed fish.”