Local environmental issues By Joanne
Overfishing and illegal fishing intro Less than 1% of the world’s oceans are protected from all human activity. We are fishing ourselves into a crisis that threatens global fish stocks. While we are only beginning to understand the full impact of our actions, what we do know is, the situation is urgent.
Having fished out their own waters, countries like Japan, European Union member states, Taiwan, Korea, the United States and China are now sending their industrial fishing fleets to the Pacific to exploit the region’s stocks. Since industrial fishing began in the 1950s, global fish stocks have been in decline.90% of the oceans’ large predatory fish, such as tuna, swordfish, marlin and sharks, have been taken from our oceans. Over fishing
Our seas are also under attack from pirate, or illegal, fishers. Their activities compound the environmental destruction already caused by industrial fishing. Globally, more than US$4 billion is lost each year. In the Pacific, 46% of all fish caught is illegal, unreported and unregulated. Illegal fishing
As climate change causes sea ice in our polar oceans to melt and air pollution increases the acidity of our oceans. Sea water temperatures and sea levels have already started to rise and change ocean currents. Whole species of marine animals and fish are at risk – they simply cannot survive in the changed conditions. Climate Change
Exhaust fumes are extremely dangerous and can seriously injure and even kill people who are exposed. Exhaust fumes from heaters, for example, contain carbon monoxide, which is regarded as the commonest single cause of poisoning in both industry and the home. Car fumes
Littering is the unlawful disposal of any type of domestic or commercial waste material of an amount less than 200 litres in volume. Common types of littering activity include: cigarette butts, drink bottles and fast food packaging thrown out of a vehicle or vessel. Littering