WORLD OCEAN FISHERIES

- Source of proteinJobs depend upon fishing related processing industries (canning,

freezing)Pet food, fertilizersBoat building, making nets, ice production

The thermo-layer- the heat layer in the atmosphere or water, at a different temperature to the air or water above or below it

Factors:- expanses of continental shelf (naturally rich

in plankton)-ocean currentsHuman factors

The sea fish caught:- pelagic (near the ocean surface- herring,

mackerel, sardine)- demersal (closer to the floor of the

continental shelf- cod, haddock, plaice, sole)Other main marine animals of commercial

value:-crustacea (crabs, lobsters, crayfish)- Molluscs (oysters, mussels)- Dolphins, seals, turtles, whales

OVERFISHING AND ITS CONSEQUENCESOverfishing – there are insufficient fish left to

carry on the reproductive cycle and raise stock levels to the point where large scale commercial fishing can return

Should not be determined by the number of fish available, but by the numbers that will be left to maintain future fish stock

Causes:Use of new technologyDemand for fish continues to rise as the world population

increases

Consenquences- fish stocks on some fishing grounds are at such low

levels Jobs in fishing and related industries were lost in the

1990sSearch for new fish supplies is spreading the problem of

overfishing to other parts of the world (Southern Ocean)

Strategies for the sustainable fisheriesUN Law of the Sea Conference (1974)- 200 nautical miles zone (a country has sole rights to all natural

resources (Economic Exclusion Zone – EEZ)Countries are responsible for marine resources

in their own territorial waters

QUOTAS – annual limits are set for the amount and types of fish that can be caught

Can be supported by other management policies:

- Closed season for fishing (during the breeding time)

- Restricted areas (so that breeding can take place and stock recover)

- Limits on net types and sizes (so that young fish can swim through the nets)