The childhood fishing trips that your dad or grandpa took you on are now at risk because Nemo disappeared and cannot be found. Preservationists believe that a rise in the fisherman population caused an increase in overfishing over the past ten years. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recently declared a program that cuts back the fisherman quota allowed to set sail. The data collected by NOAA brought forth detailed fish population surveys explaining the need for grounding vessels. Current surveys however show that the quota’s enforcement needs more regulation. The fisheries populations are now struggling more than ever thanks to overfishing. I however, have a new solution that explains exactly what needs fixing and how both fisherman and the ecosystem can expect a productive future.
On May 1st 2010, the National Marine Fisheries Service started its new system in order to monitor serious overfishing populations. As specifically broken down in the article Campaign to End Overfishing in New England, there are three voluntary sectors that, with time, “will help rebuild fish populations while fishermen reap the benefits of market demand”. This seems to be the overall goal of the managing system. There are more things that the program is trying to do. The program will do a better job to track how many fish are caught and discarded so fisheries managers can set better catch limits. Also, with this part of the process more jobs are put in place for unemployed fishermen, because they can perform and regulate this part of the spectrum. In order to cut back on some of the overfishing population the program will increase monitoring to eliminate vessels that have not joined these organized sectors. Repercussions of these vessels that catch and exceed limits are that the fish populations have trouble rebuilding. In return, this means less fish that the legal sectors can catch. This program also implements more updates of scientific data. With updated information, the sectors will know how many fish are available to be caught. I think that with the implementation and strict order of the National Marine Fisheries Services there is hope for a more grossly fish populated future.
New regulations and the cut back on actually commercial fishing will affect anyone and everyone who eats fish, plans to eat fish, or just recreationally fish. Due to the economic system that we have, common market demand directly effects cost. Once smaller amounts of fish are being produced by the fisheries, the costs of fish based on an increased demand of fish, will increase dramatically. If you plan on going to the market to get fish for dinner, expect an increase on the amount you will pay per pound. The NMFS are not exactly sure how much of an increase, but based on economical trends, it is going to happen.
One main reason that this program has to become a serious part of the fisheries services is because the ecosystem has taken a immense hit in the amount of fish it produces related to the amount of fish that are taken from the water. The oceans are under extreme stress and at risk of collapse. Here are some numbers recorded by NOAA: 52% of fish stocks are fully exploited, 20% are moderately exploited, 17% are overexploited, 7% are depleted, and 1% is recovering from depletion. As you can see, the amount of fish that are being exploited is a serious problem. This means that in the near future, definitely in my lifetime, even the most common fish like bass, salmon and cod could be put on the endangered species list. As mentioned in the opening paragraph, recreational fishing trips with friends and family will rapidly decrease.
Technology plays a major role in the preservation of the economy. One technological advance that the NOAA has already begun to use out on the water is a new survey vessel called “Bell M. Shimada”. This new vessel has put the NOAA in direction for a significant achievement for the agency and show that they have taken their efforts to help with overfishing to a new level. This new vessel produces so little background noise that we can count fish and asses the health and behavior of marine species with highly sensitive acoustic devices. With this new advance in survey taking, the NMFS can monitor specific groups of the environment and therefore know more accurately which populations have taken more of a hit. Then the limits can be made and strict observations will help these damaged populations rebuild.
Fleets of overfishing vessels have increased to where there is about two or three times as much fishermen to where we could successfully cover at least four Earth like planets. The awareness of the National Marines Fisheries Service program must continue to grow and the new sectors have to step up and function together to try and save our natural marine habitats. I believe that with the technological advances and the observation of commercial fishing, there is hope to regulate overfishing. On the other hand, if something is not done soon our ecosystem will continually degrade from bad to worse; a lifeless body of water.
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