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SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD MANAGEMENT
Water is home to numerous animals, most of which are consumed by us as food. Sustainable seafood is seafood that is obtained in a way that doesn't affect the environment in a harmful way. Sustainable fishing is one of the best approaches in which we can ensure that seafood can be acquired for human consumption without wiping out the incredible species of marine wildlife.
Increased demand for seafood due to the large population has led to the depletion of fish and shellfish populations around the globe. Fishers remove more than 170 billion pounds (77 billion kg) of wildlife from the sea each year. It is feared that there might be a huge collapse in the world's fisheries if fishing is continued at this rate. No doubt that we need to employ sustainable fishing to continue to cherish oceans as a wide source of food.
Overfishing is due to the consumption of seafood before the aquatic animals can replenish their species. People are fishing illegally beyond the international boundaries set. The fish are forcefully bred for more income and sales.
Seafood is not only consumed by humans as food but also for medical benefits. Fishes are one of the main sources of Omega 3 fatty acids which help in preventing heart diseases and stroke. Considering the ocean pollution nowadays, humans are not able to consume healthy seafood causing diseases. Ocean pollution is not only affecting marine life but humans as well.
It should be our target to ensure fully traceable seafood by 2030. Cast-net fishing and spearfishing are some of the sustainable fishing practices which are historically used by Native Hawaiians and Polynesian cultures.
As consumers, we should buy seafood wisely from well-managed sustainable fisheries and educate ourselves about how is it caught. We need to sympathize with our environment and save our oceans and aquatic life.
~ Arshi Goel and Namya Aggarwal (SMSMB)
THE SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD MOVEMENT
Sustainable seafood is seafood that is caught or farmed in methods that prove to be vital for the harvested species and the well-being of the oceans, as well as the livelihoods of fisheries-dependent communities. The production of such items can be increased or regulated from either fished or farmed sources without harming the ecosystem. The promotion of sustainable seafood management began in the 1990s. It brought to the notice of the world overfishing and environmentally destructive fishing methods. Over the years, the movement has increased awareness and raised concerns over the way our seafood is obtained through various initiatives.
The sustainable seafood movement has gained instigation as more people grow mindful of both overfishing and environmentally destructive fishing approaches. Fish husbandry can also have negative environmental consequences like the destruction of natural marshlands and marine pollution. The Sustainable Seafood Movement is a drive born through the consummation that the marine ecosystems of the world were being overexploited and destroyed. It began in the 1990s and was driven by social marketing through Ecolabel and mindfulness movements through social marketing, the collaboration between environmental-governmental organizations( NGOs) and assiduity allowed for the consumer to make informed choices, potentially contributing to the conservation of marine biodiversity.
SIGNIFICANCE
Marine surroundings are under tremendous pressure. Their problems primarily arise through anthropogenic causes, similar to overfishing and environmental destruction. Fisheries are capable to recover or stabilize their populations when responsible governance and regulations are in place. But, maximum seafood is attained through ''reckless fishing practices that continue to modify some marine ecosystems''. This has influenced record-depleted stocks. Considering the rising global population and the pressure that it has, and will continue to ply on the Earth's resources, a more sustainable system of fishing is necessary if humans wish to use its natural plentitude.
CREATING AWARENESS
Awareness drives concentrate on educating the public and encouraging them to buy products that consider the vitality of marine species. They do so through boycotts of certain species and products as well as through seafood guards. Seafood guards accentuate which species are passable to consume and which aren't based on their environmental impact. Guides are constructed into three groups, some using the analogy of a marketplace light's colours red, yellow, and green. These rankings are formulated on how the fish responds to fishing pressure, plentitude, gear impact, bycatch, and administration. Red represents items to avoid, yellow is a good alternative, and green is the best choice. In September 2016, an association of Google and Oceana and Skytruth introduced Global Fishing Watch, a website designed to help citizens of the globe in taking care of fishing exercises.
~ Samidh Chhabra (SMSMB)
Picture source: https://aquascript.com/overfishing/
~ a poster by Garvika Agarwal (SMSMB)
~ a poster by Lavanya Sukhlani (SMSMB)
Overfishing leads to fewer fish in the ocean, so boats must venture into new locations, or trawlers go to deeper parts of the sea, which destroys even more ecosystems.
~By Amos, Haidong, Taiwan
Ghost Fishing
Ghost Fishing
Ghost fishing refers to fishing gear that has been lost, abandoned, or discarded in the ocean and continues to catch and kill marine animals. These lost nets, lines, and traps can entangle marine animals, such as fish, turtles, dolphins, and seals, causing injuries and death. Ghost fishing is a significant environmental problem that not only harms marine life but also poses risks to the safety of human divers and causes economic losses to fishing industries.
Here are some ways to help stop ghost fishing:
1. Reduce the amount of fishing gear that is lost at sea: Encourage fishermen to use biodegradable or easily identifiable gear that can be retrieved if it becomes lost. Governments can even implement policies that require fishing gear to be marked or made from biodegradable materials to reduce the amount of ghost gear in the ocean.
2.Recycle old fishing gear: When fishing gear has reached the end of its useful life, it should be properly disposed of. Recycling programs can be implemented to turn old fishing gear into new products.
~Zero, Haidong, Taiwan
Picture source: https://www.google.com/search?q=derelict%20fishing%20gear&tbm=isch&hl=zh-TW&sa=X&ved=0CCIQrNwCKABqFwoTCJi6q5mkmf0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD&biw=1903&bih=937#imgrc=9St5UzmsBdWxAM
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