#7: The Fishing Dilemma

                Over the years, the world population has accelerated at an alarming pace, gaining momentum day by day, never seeming to subdue. Such acceleration brings with it a sharp increase in demand of goods and services. One industry in particular, the seafood and fishing industry, has felt the harsh lashes of such a strong demand. Note that, as a principle of business, an increase in demand consequently results in a decrease in supply as customers deplete the markets. This being said, producers are now looking for ways--that is, unethical ways--to continue manufacturing goods, worming their way around a thinning supply of the very product they sell and produce.

                If I asked you to picture a fisherman, naturally you'd be prone to dreaming up an aged man, dressed in simple garments, his head shaded with a faded fishing hat as the sun dances around its edges. You would be likely to dream up a calm atmosphere, the fisherman waiting patiently, listening to the ripples of the water, waiting in serenity for the fish beneath him to tug at his fishing line. This is the concept  of the word "fisherman" that has become etched into our minds by literature as well as the media. Sadly, this traditional way of fishing is no more. What if I were to tell you that most fishermen nowadays propel through the water on massive boats, water churning beneath them with deafening tones? What if I were to tell you that fishermen nowadays laugh at the idea of using a fishing rod and, instead, are using miles of nets, dragging these gargantuan fish catchers through the water, destroying organisms and aquatic homes as it blasts along? What if I told you that millions of species are rapidly declining and are threatened with extinction due to these harmful practices? Is this what fishing is supposed to be like?

                Overfishing is a major issue in our world today as it can lead to a multitude of environmental as well as economical consequences. Using mass fishing nets depletes the waters of fish as hoards of fish, weighing  many tons, are scooped up out of the water. When we think about this logically, we would start to realize that many other organisms get unintentionally caught in these deathly nets as well, such as dolphins, sharks, and sea turtles. These unintended catches usually die in the chaos as the fishermen are unable to single-handedly remove the organism from the catch and release it back into the water on time. Overfishing also has long-term effects as the depletion of one species may cause a domino effect in aquatic ecosystems. In other words, the species that depend on the extinct species may soon begin to fade out as well due to the lack of food and resources . In addition to this, the jobs of fishermen are threatened when the fishing industry runs out of specific fish they are prized for selling. So what do companies do to compensate for the decline in a certain species of fish? They certainly cannot just give up and close the business. Imagine all the profits they would lose if this were the route they were going to take. Thus marks the beginning of the rise of an even greater dilemma. With desperate times comes desperate measures, and so, fishermen and companies are catching one type of fish but selling it under the name of another. Is this ethical? Absolutely not. But does the average person know the difference between two different types of fish that are similar in size and appearance? Not a clue. So has the fishing industry gotten away with such practices? You bet.

                What, then, can individuals do to help? Simple tasks such as making sure the fish you eat was sustainably fished and not endangered can do miraculous things. This would decrease demand of overexploited fish and would, therefore, hinder the practice of mass fishing of the certain species. Consumers should feel good about the fish they are eating instead of having to worry about the environmental impacts of poor fishing techniques. Thus, it is imperative that consumers pinpoint exactly how and where their seafood comes from in order to ensure that oceans are kept stable and are preserved.

Bowman, Shiela. "Consumers, Speak Out." The NY Times. N.p., 9 June 2009. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. <http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/09/the-seafood-eaters-latest-conundrum/>.

"Overfishing: A Threat to Marine Biodiversity." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013. <http://www.un.org/events/tenstories/06/story.asp?storyID=800>.

"The Ocean." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013. <http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-overfishing/>.