What will happen to the planet, oceans, and people if we do not act? While nothing is certain (except possibly death and taxes), their is overwhelming scientific evidence to suggest severe consequences of inaction: we're facing potential extinction of fish stocks and the subsequent collapse the entire ecosystems (Worm et al., 2006); widespread human costs due to job loss, cultural decline, and nutritional deficiencies, the latter of which will most dramatically impact the poorer developing nations (Ahmed et al., 2003); and climactic changes so extreme that the entire globe will feel the effects.
Marine Ecosystems Collapse
Human Impact
Job Loss
This concept is simple: if fisheries continue to overfish, consequently resulting in species or ecosystem collapse, the entire industry will flounder. According to the United States Department of Labor, as of 2004, there were approximately 38,000 people working as fishermen in the United States
"Fish account for approximately 20% of all animal protein in the human diet, with almost 1 billion people relying solely on fish as their primary source of protein. Furthermore, seventy-five percent of fish eaten by humans are marine-caught, as opposed to their freshwater and farm-raised counterparts. Given these conditions, and declining stocks of marine fish, one study suggests that the projected decrease in fish supply over the next two decades will not meet the demands of a growing global population" (Duke).
Greenland and Faeroe Island consume 85 kilograms of fish per capita per year--second only to the Maldives, where each person consumes 190 kilograms of fish and shellfish per year, placing an extraordinary amount of faith in and responsibility on our oceans (NMFS, 2006).
Global Climate Change
This is what happens is we don't do anything. The future is bleak.
this should have the most contrast with the happy, "imagine fish so dense... " etc.
try to address all of these areas:
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Regardless of cause, the global climate is getting warmer, and will continue to do so in the future. Projections vary wildly between sources, as demonstrated in the below illustration compiled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Various temperature predictions ("Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis," 2001)
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Perhaps the greatest effect from climate change on global fisheries could be through plankton. Plankton is the basic food source for many of these creatures, including fish larvae (Haysa, Richardsonb, & Robinson, 2005). Plankton must follow ocean currents, and are dependent on certain atmospheric conditions. It has already been found that increasing ocean temperatures affect plankton levels through ENSO cycle studies (Haysa, Richardsonb, & Robinson, 2005). However, whether plankton will be enhanced or depleted by predicted climate changes on a global scale is unknown.
Simulated levels of various plankton species' growth (Follows, Dutkiewicz, Grant, & Chisholm, 2007).
- YOU
- Consumer products
- Cosmetics
- drugs/medicine
- Food
- Oil ?
- Cat and dog food
- Consumer products
- YOU
The Impact on Humans
"Fish account for approximately 20% of all animal protein in the human diet, with almost 1 billion people relying solely on fish as their primary source of protein. Furthermore, seventy-five percent of fish eaten by humans are marine-caught, as opposed to their freshwater and farm-raised counterparts. Given these conditions, and declining stocks of marine fish, one study suggests that the projected decrease in fish supply over the next two decades will not meet the demands of a growing global population" (Duke). People living in places like Greenland and Faeroe Island consume 85 kilograms of fish per capita per year--second only to the Maldives, where each person consumes 190 kilograms of fish and shellfish per year, placing an extraordinary amount of faith in and responsibility on our oceans (NMFS, 2006).
Works Cited
Ahmed, M., Delgado, C.L., Meijer, S., Rosegrant, M.W., Wada, N. (2003). The Future of Fish: Issues and Trends to 2020. International Food Policy Research Insitute and WorldFish Center. Retrieved 18 November 2007, from the World Wide Web: http://www.ifpri.org
.Works Cited
Antarctica does Acid - global warming, ocean acidification, and the Southern Ocean. (2006). Tasmedia.org. Retrieved November 19, 2007, from http://www.tasmedia.org/node/1214 Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis. (2001). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Retrieved November 19, 2007, from http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg1/348.htm
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National Marine Fisheries Service. (2006). Per Capita Consumption. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/fus/fus06/08_perita2006.pdf.
U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2004). Fishers and Fishing Vessel Operators. Retrieved 16 Novemeber 2007, from the World Wide Web: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos177.htm.
Worm, B., Barbier, E.B., Beaumont, N., Duffy, J.E., Folke, C., Halpern, B.S., Jackson, J.B.C., Lotze, H.K., Micheli, F., Palumbi, S.R., Sala, E., Selkoe, K.A., Stachowicz, J.J., Watson, R. (3 November 2006). Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services. Science Magazine, 314, 787-790. Retrieved 19 October 2007, from the World Wide Web: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/314/5800/787?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=impacts+of+biodiversity+loss&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT.