Fishing Methods

Fishing Methods

Bottom Trawling

Industrial fishing method → large net with heavy weights dragged across the seafloor Unselective → scoops up everything in its path, not just target fish Bycatch problem → kills non-target species: fish , corals & sponges, sea turtles, seabirds Ghost fishing → lost/abandoned nets keep trapping and killing marine life for years Major impact → destroys habitats & reduces biodiversity

Ghost Fishing

Discarded, lost or abandoned fishing gear in the ocean Continues to trap and kill marine life Entangle fish, turtles, seabirds, etc. Smothers habitats such as coral reefs

Unsustainable Fishing

Humans have become highly efficient at catching fish GPS & sonar technology help local fish with precision Fishing fleets are larger and super trawlers can fish for weeks Hi-tech nets & gear catch both target species and by catch

Overfishing

Overfishing depletes fish stocks, disrupts marine ecosystems, and can lead to the collapse of fisheries, impacting livelihoods and food security, particularly in coastal communities reliant on fishing

Maximum Sustainable Yield

MSY: the largest catch possible without reducing future stocks Overexploited fisheries: harvested beyond MSY → unsustainable Depleted fisheries: stocks fall so low that fishing can no longer continue

Marine Protected Areas

Support aquatic food chains & help maintain sustainable yields Entirely marine (no land mass) Mixed (marine + terrestrial areas) Mainly terrestrial/tidal (mangrove swamps

Aquaculture

The farming of aquatic organisms in either coastal or inland areas. It involves interventions in the rearing process to enhance production. Species Ex: oysters, salmons, catfishes, brown/red seaweed, etc

Mariculture (saltwater aquaculture

Farming of saltwater organisms Fish raised in large pens/nets in the ocean Feed & supplements added at the surface -> fish grow in contained areas Wastes sink to seafloor -> polluting the local ecosystems Risks: antibiotic overuse, disease spread and similar problems to industrial livestock farming

Advantages and Disadvantages of Aquaculture