Chapter 17 Resources from the Sea

What percentage of the world’s food comes from the ocean?

Even at 1% world total It is one of the world’s most important protein sources! Protein deficiency is a major cause of disease and death in poor developing countries Finfish =30% of protein eaten around the world!

Food From the Sea What types of organisms are harvested? What types of organisms are harvested? –Finfish (about 90% of worldwide harvest) –Shellfish – mollusks & crustaceans –Other species jellyfish, sea cucumbers, polychaetes and seaweed jellyfish, sea cucumbers, polychaetes and seaweed

What is a Fishery? According to the FAO (Food & Agriculture Organization of the U.N.), it is the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats, purpose of the activities or a combination of the foregoing features".

The Fisheries Industry 1950’s to present 1950’s to present –there was a huge increase in fishing effort. Fishing Effort - # of boats, days spent fishing, Fishing Effort - # of boats, days spent fishing, # hooks in the water, etc. # hooks in the water, etc. 1980’s to present 1980’s to present – worldwide catches relatively constant relatively constant despite the increased despite the increased fishing effort fishing effort Today many species overexploited or exhausted especially in the Atlantic, Pacific & Mediterranean

Worldwide Commercial Catches

Worldwide Marine Catch and Mariculture (marine organism farming) 6 Major Fishing Nations Decline in world total China may overstate for promotion Peru’s catch is up and down due to anchovy up and down populations

Major Fishing Areas Most located near coast on continental shelf Most located near coast on continental shelf Easier to catch demersal species Easier to catch demersal species –Swim near the bottom Lots of photosynthesis means more species are present Lots of photosynthesis means more species are present –Upwelling areas like Peru –Anywhere near the surface Pelagic- live in open water Demersal / Benthic- bottom dwelling

FAO= Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN Why do you think the NW Pacific & NE Atlantic have some of the largest catches? Why do you think Antarctica & the SW Pacific have the lowest catch numbers?

What makes a good fishing spot? Rich WIDE continental shelf. Easy to harvest demersal (bottom) species. Primary production is higher over the shelf supporting abundant life! Good upwelling of nutrients in these major fishing areas too!

Examples of Commercially Important Fishes Around the World

Fishing Methods

Examples of Fishing Methods

Major Food Species Clupeoid fishes- herring, shad, anchovy Clupeoid fishes- herring, shad, anchovy –Form huge schools –Caught in purse seines Tuna Tuna –These fish command high prices – guess how much? –They are caught in open water on long lines or in gillnets

:-0 BLUE FIN TUNA :-O In 2001 a 440-pound tuna sold for $220,000!!!!

Major Non-fish Food Species Seaweeds Seaweeds Jellyfish Jellyfish Polychaetes Polychaetes Sea turtles Sea turtles Sea urchins Sea urchins Crustaceans - Shrimp, lobster, crab Crustaceans - Shrimp, lobster, crab Mammals- whales and seals Mammals- whales and seals Mollusks- Second most valuable catch after finfish Mollusks- Second most valuable catch after finfish Cephalopods- Squids, cuttlefish, & octopus Cephalopods- Squids, cuttlefish, & octopus Bivalves- Clams, oysters, mussels, scallops Bivalves- Clams, oysters, mussels, scallops Univalves - abalones Univalves - abalones

Uses of Catches Eaten directly Eaten directly –Vital source of inexpensive protein in many parts of the world Cosmetics Cosmetics Medicines Medicines Fish meal Fish meal –ground fish used as protein supplement for poultry, livestock and aquaculture feed Fish oil Fish oil margarine, cosmetics, paints, omega-3 fatty acids margarine, cosmetics, paints, omega-3 fatty acids Fish flour Fish flour powder used as a dietary supplement powder used as a dietary supplement

Sponge from Fiji being grown for chemicals that kill worms and human parasites.

Which country/culture eats more fish on average per person? Japan or United States

Japan average of 159 lb. of fish per person every year United States average of 46 lb. of fish per person per year

Now, Lets see how beneficial fishing can be to the economy and play the fishing game