Chapter 17Chapter 17

Resources from the SeaResources from the Sea

What percentage of

the world’s food comes from the

ocean?

Even at 1% world total

It is one of the world’s most important protein sources!

Protein deficiency is a major cause of disease and death in

poor developing countries

Finfish =30% of protein eaten around

the world!

Food From the SeaFood From the Sea

• What types of organisms What types of organisms are harvested?are harvested?– Finfish (about 90% of Finfish (about 90% of

worldwide harvest)worldwide harvest)– Shellfish – mollusks & Shellfish – mollusks &

crustaceanscrustaceans– Other species Other species

• jellyfish, sea cucumbers, jellyfish, sea cucumbers, polychaetes and seaweedpolychaetes and seaweed

What is a Fishery?•According to the FAO (Food & Agriculture

Organization of the U.N.), it is the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats, purpose of the activities or a combination of the foregoing features".

The Fisheries IndustryThe Fisheries Industry• 1950’s to present1950’s to present

– there was a huge there was a huge increase in fishing increase in fishing effort.effort.

• Fishing EffortFishing Effort - - # of # of boats, days spent fishing,boats, days spent fishing,

# hooks in the water, etc.# hooks in the water, etc.

• 1980’s to present1980’s to present– worldwide catchesworldwide catches

relatively constant relatively constant

despite the increased despite the increased

fishing effortfishing effort

Today many species overexploited or

exhausted especially in the Atlantic, Pacific &

Mediterranean

Worldwide Commercial Worldwide Commercial CatchesCatches

Worldwide Worldwide Marine Catch Marine Catch

and and MaricultureMariculture

(marine organism (marine organism farming)farming)

6 Major Fishing Nations

Decline in world total

China may overstate for promotion

Peru’s catch is up and down due to anchovy up

and down populations

Major Fishing AreasMajor Fishing Areas• Most located near coast on Most located near coast on

continental shelfcontinental shelf

• Easier to catch Easier to catch demersal demersal speciesspecies– Swim near the bottomSwim near the bottom

• Lots of photosynthesis Lots of photosynthesis means more species are means more species are presentpresent– Upwelling areas like PeruUpwelling areas like Peru– Anywhere near the surfaceAnywhere near the surface

Pelagic- live in open waterDemersal / Benthic- bottom

dwelling

FAO= Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN

Why do you think the NW Pacific & NE Atlantic have some of the largest catches?

Why do you think Antarctica & the SW Pacific have the lowest catch numbers?

What makes a good fishing spot?

Rich WIDE continental shelf.

Easy to harvest demersal (bottom) species.

Primary production is higher over the shelf

supporting abundant life!

Good upwelling of nutrients in these major fishing areas too!

Examples Examples of of

CommerciallCommercially y

Important Important Fishes Fishes Around Around

the Worldthe World

Fishing MethodsFishing Methods

Examples of Fishing Methods

Examples of Fishing Methods

Major Food SpeciesMajor Food Species

• Clupeoid fishes- herring, shad, anchovyClupeoid fishes- herring, shad, anchovy– Form huge schoolsForm huge schools– Caught in purse seinesCaught in purse seines

• TunaTuna– These fish command high prices – guess how These fish command high prices – guess how

much?much?– They are caught in open water on long lines They are caught in open water on long lines

or in gillnetsor in gillnets

:-0 BLUE FIN TUNA :-O:-0 BLUE FIN TUNA :-O

In 2001 a In 2001 a 440-pound tuna 440-pound tuna sold for $220,000!!!!sold for $220,000!!!!

Major Non-fish Food SpeciesMajor Non-fish Food Species• SeaweedsSeaweeds

• JellyfishJellyfish

• PolychaetesPolychaetes

• Sea turtlesSea turtles

• Sea urchinsSea urchins

• Crustaceans - Shrimp, lobster, crabCrustaceans - Shrimp, lobster, crab

• Mammals- whales and sealsMammals- whales and seals

• MollusksMollusks- Second most valuable catch after finfish- Second most valuable catch after finfish•Cephalopods- Squids, cuttlefish, & octopusCephalopods- Squids, cuttlefish, & octopus

•Bivalves- Clams, oysters, mussels, scallopsBivalves- Clams, oysters, mussels, scallops

•Univalves - abalonesUnivalves - abalones

Uses of CatchesUses of Catches• Eaten directlyEaten directly

– Vital source of inexpensive Vital source of inexpensive protein in many parts of the protein in many parts of the worldworld

• CosmeticsCosmetics

• MedicinesMedicines

• Fish mealFish meal– ground fish used as protein ground fish used as protein

supplement for poultry, supplement for poultry, livestock and aquaculture livestock and aquaculture feedfeed

• Fish oil Fish oil

•margarine, cosmetics, margarine, cosmetics, paints, omega-3 fatty paints, omega-3 fatty acidsacids

• Fish flourFish flour

•powder used as a dietary powder used as a dietary supplementsupplement

Sponge from Fiji being grown for chemicals that kill worms and human parasites.

Which country/culture eats more fish on average per

person?

Japan

or

United States

Japanaverage of 159 lb. of fish

per person every year

United Statesaverage of 46 lb. of fish

per person per year

Now, Lets see how Now, Lets see how beneficial fishing can be to beneficial fishing can be to the economy and play the the economy and play the

fishing gamefishing game