7.1G Unsustainable extracting, harvesting, transporting, and processes Notes

Unsustainable Fishing Practices: A Case Study of Overfishing

Overfishing is a prominent example of how renewable resources, such as fish, can become unsustainable due to harmful extraction, harvesting, transportation, and processing practices.

While fish populations are theoretically renewable, the way they are exploited can deplete stocks, disrupt ecosystems, and harm local economies.

Unsustainable Extraction and Harvesting

Overfishing occurs when fish are caught at a rate faster than they can reproduce, depleting fish populations to unsustainable levels.

This is often driven by:

1. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing: Unsustainable practices like overfishing in protected areas or using destructive fishing techniques such as bottom trawling.
2. Excessive fishing quotas: In many cases, fishery management systems set catch limits based on outdated or inaccurate data, leading to overfishing.
3. Bycatch: Non-target species, including endangered fish, turtles, and marine mammals, are often unintentionally caught, reducing biodiversity and harming ecosystems.

Unsustainable Transportation:

The transportation of fish, especially for international markets, can also be unsustainable:

1. Carbon footprint:
   1. Shipping fish over long distances, especially through air freight.
   2. This contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Waste and spoilage:
   1. Fish can often spoil during transportation if refrigeration systems fail or are inadequate, leading to waste.
   2. This is especially true for small-scale fisheries that lack the resources for efficient transportation.

Unsustainable Processing:

The processing of fish, particularly in large-scale commercial operations, can also contribute to unsustainability:

1. Energy-intensive methods: Industrial fish processing often involves energy-intensive techniques, such as freezing and canning, which can be unsustainable if the energy sources are not renewable.
2. Waste products: The processing of fish generates waste, including fish scraps and packaging materials, much of which is not properly recycled or disposed of, contributing to pollution.

Environmental and Social Impacts:

1. Depletion of fish stocks: Overfishing can lead to the collapse of fish populations, as seen in the case of Atlantic cod, which has been severely depleted due to unsustainable fishing practices.
2. Damage to marine ecosystems: Destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling can cause significant damage to coral reefs, seafloor habitats, and biodiversity.
3. Economic collapse of fishing communities: Unsustainable fishing reduces the long-term availability of fish, which can undermine the livelihoods of communities that rely on fishing as their primary source of income and food.
4. Food insecurity: Depletion of fish stocks can lead to food insecurity for populations that depend on fish as a primary protein source.

Sustainable Alternatives:

1. Marine protected areas (MPAs): Establishing MPAs can help restore fish populations and protect ecosystems from overfishing.
2. Sustainable fishing practices: Implementing catch limits based on scientific data, using selective fishing gear, and reducing bycatch can help fish populations recover.
3. Certification schemes: Labels such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) can encourage sustainable fishing practices by certifying fisheries that meet certain environmental standards.