Significant Ideas
Aquatic systems provide a source of food production.
Unsustainable use of aquatic ecosystems can lead to environmental degradation and collapse of wild fisheries.
Aquaculture provides potential for increased food production.
Knowledge and Understanding
Demand for aquatic food resources continues to increase as human population grows and diet changes.
Photosynthesis by phytoplankton supports a highly diverse range of food webs.
Aquatic (freshwater and marine) flora and fauna are harvested by humans.
The highest rates of productivity are found near coastlines or in shallow seas, where upwellings and nutrient enrichment of surface waters occurs.
Harvesting some species, such as seals and whales, can be controversial. Ethical issues arise over biorights, rights of indigenous cultures and international conservation legislation.
Developments in fishing equipment and changes to fishing methods have led to dwindling fish stocks and damage to habitats.
Unsustainable exploitation of aquatic systems can be mitigated at a variety of levels (international, national, local and individual) through policy, legislation and changes in consumer behaviour.
Aquaculture has grown to provide additional food resources and support economic development and is expected to continue to rise.
Issues around aquaculture include: loss of habitats, pollution (with feed, antifouling agents, antibiotics and other medicines added to fish pens), spread of diseases and escaped species (some involving genetically modified organisms).
Applications and Skills
Discuss, with reference to a case study, the controversial harvesting of a named species.
Evaluate strategies that can be used to avoid unsustainable fishing.
Explain the potential value of aquaculture for providing food for future generations.
Discuss a case study that demonstrates the impact of aquaculture.
Guidance
Wild fisheries are also known as “capture fisheries”.
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms in both coastal and inland areas that involves intervention in the rearing process to enhance production.
Examine different points of view regarding harvesting of a controversial species; for example, the historical Inuit tradition of whaling versus modern international conventions.
When looking at the increase in demand for food resources, consideration should be given to changes in attitude towards “health foods” and food fashions.
Consider how two contrasting fisheries have been managed and relate to the concept of sustainability; for example, cod fisheries in Newfoundland and Iceland. Issues that should be covered include: improvements to boats, fishing gear (trawler bags), and detection of fisheries and boats via satellites. Management aspects should include: use of quotas, designation of marine protected areas (exclusion zones), and restriction on types and size of fishing gear (including mesh size of nets).
Students should understand maximum sustainable yield (MSY) as applied to fish stocks.
Key Vocabulary
XYZ
Textbook Reading and/or Activities
Click HERE for a pdf of chapter 4.
Pages x-xx
Challenge Yourself (p.x)
Worked Example (p.x-xx)
Exercises (p.x)
Notes
i-Biology Notes (Not available)
A detailed set of notes, created by Stephen Taylor, examining U1 - U8 and A1 - A4.
i-Biology Study Questions (Not available)
A series of questions, created by Stephen Taylor, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice.
Bioknowledgy Notes (Not available)
A detailed set of notes, created by Chris Paine, examining all of the IB learning expectations.
Bioknowledgy Study Questions (Not available)
A series of questions, created by Chris Paine, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice.
Learning Activities
Acid Rain
This article, published by the Norwegian Environment Agency, on May.11, 2015, examines the environmental impacts of transboundary air pollution. Follow up questions included.
Supplemental Reading
This video examines the difficulties we've historically had with counting aquatic species but how new technology is improving our estimates, which could improve management practices.
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