Did you know… The global fishing fleet is 2.5 X greater than our ocean ecosystem can support Serious threat on fish species and could take decades to recover

Unit 6: Resources and Sustainability Ms. Thind Ocean Sustainability Unit 6: Resources and Sustainability Ms. Thind

Why are oceans important? Planetary ecosystem Regulate temperature Starting point of the hydrological cycle Carbon sink Provide a source of food Provide leisure activities

Overfishing Non sustainable use of the ocean  catch is well over sustainable yield Main problem affecting ocean fishery http://overfishing.org/pages/why_is_overfishing_a_problem.php

Overfishing: How? Why? Technological advances: tracking systems to catch fish Poor regulation and planning Dragnets and Driftnet fishing: “vacuum” the sea  at times are cut off and are left in the ocean  ghost fishing Dynamite fishing Cyanide: squirted into coral cavities to stun fish  easy to catch  kills other coral and reef organisms

Overfishing: Results? Depletion of fish species Disruption of food chain Staple food  source of protein being depleted Harmful to economies that rely on fishing Increased practice of aquaculture and fish farming

Aquaculture the farming of freshwater and saltwater organisms, implies the cultivation of aquatic populations under controlled conditions. Used to increase availability of protein, sport fishing, and farming of expensive species: shrimp and lobster for $$

Fish Farming leads to higher than normal levels of fish waste in the water Unused feed and waste products can contaminate the sea floor and cultured fish can escape from these pens. Crowded conditions at fish farms will lead to an increased risk of diseases, which can spread to wild fish

Ocean Pollution Subject to pollution from: Recreational boating Offshore oil drilling Illegal dumping by cruise ships Agricultural run off Sewage waste Industrial waste

Why should we care? Equivalent to tropical rainforest: ability to produce oxygen (phytoplankton) and absorb carbon dioxide. Protect important source of food Diminishes the biodiversity of marine life Toxicity levels in fish species will pose a threat to human health