Researchers have established that fishing using the trawling method leads to intensive long-term biological desertification of the sedimentary seabed ecosystems, reducing their content in organic carbon as well as threatening their biodiversity. Trawling is the most popular method used to extract sea living resources around the globe, but at the same time is also one of the major causes of degradation of the seabed. This type of fishing practice emerged in the second half of the fourteenth century and has grown exponentially in the last thirty years. In the past several decades, the population of fish near the shore has been dramatically diminished, making the fishermen who wish to stay in business to move further into the sea. Those that catch the fish using nets cast along the seabed (trawling) currently trawl at depths of up to 650 feet under the surface (Antonio, 2014). Even worse, they continuously trawl the same locations over and over till no more fish can be extracted before moving to new spots.
Therefore, there has been a general concern by various stakeholders throughout the world about trawling and its impacts on posterity. Governments, as well as different societies all over the world, are skeptical of what the future holds with the continued destruction of the ocean biodiversity. With the emerging issue of global warming, desertification of the ocean biodiversity to projected to escalate the results of global warming as well as climate change. It is not rare nowadays for countries that have a coastline to experience flooding, cyclones, and tornadoes. Experts analyze that if the issue is not checked in real time as well as having an amicable solution, communities that settle near the oceans might suffer from more atrocities in the future. Human beings should not just sit back and watch the ocean being exploited. Instead, they ought to take care of the environment that they live in including the oceans.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Problem
The need to conserve the ocean, particularly the methods used to extract fish has been deemed necessary for a multiple of reasons. Multiple studies have been carried out to establish the impact of trawling as well as desertification and the impacts that arise. One such study was carried out by the Polytechnic University of Marche that comprised of researchers from the Institute of Marine Sciences as well as the Autonomous University of Barcelona. The research found out that trawling is the leading cause of desertification. Moreover, the study focused on assessing the effect of trawling on the meiofauna residing in marine sediments on the fishing grounds of the continental slope. Meiofauna refers to small organisms that are between 30 and 500 micrometers (Stramma et al., 2016). The results revealed that trawling has resulted in meiofauna being less abundant by 80 percent and as well reduced its biodiversity by 50 percent compared to similar areas where trawling does not occur. The effects of trawling are also manifested in the reduction in the number of species of nematodes, which have reduced by 25 percent. Also, the study showed that the sediments are impoverished considerably in organic matter content and showed low degradation of carbon which is one of the primary functions of ecosystems in deep marine ecosystems. The research was carried out in northeastern Catalan coast, in La Fonera submarine canyon.
A vital question that emerges therefore is, how are overfishing and ocean desertification a societal problem? Several researchers and authors attempt to answer this question using different approaches. Antonio (2014) postulates that overfishing plays a central role in the social life of human beings. The author argues that when human beings use methods that overfish, the water gets depleted of resources that human beings are accustomed to for many generations. A lot of families usually pass on the fishing lifestyle to the next generation, hence a way of life shifts among many cultures around the globe. Jones (1992) adds that many jobs are lost due to ocean desertification. Reports indicate that multiples of fishers around the world are abandoning their jobs. It is however not easy because the fishing practice has been handed over from generation to generation among many cultures in the world. The impact has been mainly felt in cultures that settle on islands perhaps because they rely heavily on fishing for food and income. Fish is also a vital item for many individuals that live in tropical nations all over the globe. For instance, in major South Asian and African countries, fish accounts for as much as 50 percent of protein in the diet. Thus, depleting such as resource can have negative effects on societies in such countries. Majority of Asian and African countries are considered third world countries which means that most of the population is relatively poor and does not have high access to other high nutrient foods. The reduction in the supply of fish may cause many health problems as well as loss of weight among citizens of such countries.
The depletion of fish in water bodies that surround fishing communities leads to loss of jobs. Many impacts arise out of a decline in the fishing industry. Dayton (2002) speculates that loss of fishing jobs escalates violence and may also lead to the migration away from the home country in search of work. It is a big problem because countries need to support their citizens and avail them of working opportunities in their countries. People are considered a resource to their countries; hence nations risk losing invaluable resources to other countries. Countries may remain impoverished for a long time if many people who have skills migrate to other countries.
Perhaps one of the main impacts of ocean desertification is the change in the ecosystem. Every single aquatic animal or plant has a part to play in balancing the ecology. For marine creatures to thrive, they need a certain type of environment and nutrients that they may be dependent on other organisms. Overfishing methods such as trawling may damage the environment as well the marine ecology hence disrupting the food chain. For instance, herring is an important prey species for the cod. Thus, in case of herring being overfished the population of the cod reduces as well. The decrease of the cod population leads to a reaction in the chain of other species. Thus, if the food chain breaks at any stage, it results in a domino impact on all living creatures in the chain. Many animal species in the world have become reduced or even extinct as a result of man’s activities. For instance, seabirds such as puffins relied on the sandeel food in the Shetland Islands. Nevertheless, when the sandeels were overfished, the seabirds around the Shetland decreased. Perhaps, several species of animals still existed in the past because people used traditional methods of fishing. But the modern world has invested heavily in technology, and as a result, the focus has shifted to extracting fish in large quantities. Thompson (2017) alleges that human beings are more concerned about making maximum profits out of fishing but less concerned about conserving the fish habitats for the future. Even with the evident impacts such as the collapse of the Atlantic Canadian cod fishery in the 1990s, little effort is being channeled to ocean conservation.
Solution
Owing to the impact that ocean desertification portends, there is need to come up with mitigation strategies. One of the major measures that experts propose is for the various governments to come up with laws that regulate fishing. For example, when President Clinton of the US declared the New England ground fishery a disaster, the Congress convened to amend as well as renew the Fishery Conservation and Management Act that had been in existence for twenty years (Pew Oceans Commission, 2013). It led to the creation of the Magnuson-Stevens Act which was a significant bipartisan commitment that was aimed at ending overfishing in the US waters as well as promote the recovery of the fish stock. The other objective of the Magnuson-Stevens Act was to come up with a structure for reconstructing overfished stocks in the shortest time possible. For the US government to attain its objective, scientists created fishery management plans for every overfished stock and provided annual catch limits. The annual catch limits are set and controlled based on data extracted from scientific surveys. The management is somehow adaptive because changes in scientific data influence the changes in catch limits and are the main reason why the law is a success. On the other hand, the Chinese government in 2012 imposed a ban on trawling in Hong Kong’s waters (Zhao et al., 2014). Environmental organizations in Chile as well as in Alaska are also fighting for the ban on trawling fishing methods.
One other effective method that experts suggest is the encouragement of fish farming on individuals’ farms as opposed to wild fish. Scientists project that such practices will reduce the dependence on fishing on natural water bodies. Farmed fish, particularly those reared in inland recirculating pools have less effect on natural marine ecosystems and even tends to be more sustainable. As a result, less pressure will be directed to the oceans, hence conservation of biodiversity.
It is also imperative that people realize the importance of conserving the oceans to ensure that the existence of the future generations is not threatened. The relevant stakeholders ought to educate communities that live near the water bodies about sustainable fishing methods and the importance of doing so. Enlightened individuals can then spread the word to their children, parents and the whole community. Zhao et al. (2014) note that the most effective way of passing knowledge of sustainable fishing methods is by incorporating the issue into the school curriculum. Children will know from an early age the importance of taking care of the environment hence demonstrating the same in practice. Additionally, people can join campaign teams as well as support organizations to demonstrate their concern for the conservation of the oceans. Several organizations currently are working towards ensuring that the oceans are sustainable. Some of them include the Greenpeace Canada, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, among others. People should support the operations of such organizations by contributing funds and other resources to help them run their activities. Lastly, it is essential for individuals to examine their consumer choices. Experts such as MacIntyre (2015) says that people can do so by only eating sustainable seafood. For example, the US has guidelines regarding what sustainable seafood is. The US citizens are discouraged from eating big fish such as tuna, marlin, and shark which are usually overfished. Instead, consumption of small fish is encouraged. The US government also encourages its citizens to buy local fish. It is because fish caught in native North American water is exposed to more scrutiny as well as better regulation than that caught in other parts of the world. Lastly, the US requires its citizens to purchase only that seafood that has the Marine Stewardship Council seafood seal of approval.
Evaluation of the evidence
The evidence used in this article is reliable and is devoid of any bias. The sources that are used in the article are scholarly and peer-reviewed making them valid as well as reliable. The evidence used is mainly from secondary sources and was mainly extracted from journals and reliable internet sources. Ocean desertification is a subject of interest to many organizations; thus a lot of content of this article was extracted from research and surveys conducted by a majority of such organizations.
Image 1
For instance, the image above was extracted from The Economist and shows the countries that practice fishing on a large scale. The data provided gives evidence that the information in the article was guided by research. Some of the countries that are mentioned in the article are indicated on the chart. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), an organization that puts a lot of emphasis on the preservation of water bodies, especially those that are natural, attempts to provide solutions to the subject which this article relies heavily on upon (Antonio, 2014). The organization posits that among all threats that face the ocean currently, overfishing is at the forefront of them all. Hence, the solutions suggested are not personal opinions but arise from expert opinions as well as consensus. The Environmental Defense Fund also presupposes that approximately three billion people in the world rely on seafood as their protein source. From the analysis of such a figure, the article shows how the oceans are exposed to a high risk of desertification. It is because people are now resolving to use mechanized forms of fishing such as trawling to meet the demand. Critics argue that organizations such as the Environmental Defense Fund may exaggerate the figures to justify their campaigns. However, it is not a coincidence that many studies reveal that indeed ocean desertification is real and trawling has had negative impacts on fishing grounds. Therefore, there are no biases in the articles used in this study.
The future of fishing approaches may take a different direction. Various researchers are engaged in coming up with better fishing methods that will not pose a great threat to the ocean life. Trawling, as indicated in the article is being banned in most countries. As much as various scholars have attempted to come up with strategies to address the issue of ocean desertification and trawling, a lot of study needs to be conducted especially on the effective methods of fishing. Almost everyone is concerned about the need to conserve biodiversity in the oceans few people are researching the best designs of equipment that ought to be used in fishing in the ocean. People still depend on fish and instituting a total ban on fishing is not possible. Instead, more focus needs to be directed towards the method used in fishing. Thus, more research needs to be directed towards such techniques.
Ethical outcomes of solution
Ending ocean desertification is a definite ethical outcome. Environmental activists, as well as several government agencies, know too well the importance of conserving the oceans and natural fish habitats. The first thing is that people living in the oceans who rely on fishing as their primary source of income will not lose their jobs. The fishing will only be regulated, and this will ensure that they continue fishing for many generations. The continuous source of income may prompt the communities to take it upon themselves to preserve the fishing habitats. In a society where jobs are few, individuals tend to fight over the few available ones. As a result, the community may be chaotic and uncontrollable. With the government mitigation of managing the fishing resources, jobs will be available, hence a reduction in the chaos. People also rely on fish for consumption. A regulated yet consistent fish supply improves the health of individuals especially those in Asia and Africa. Experts such as (Jan Geert, 2017) suggest that it is better for there to be an uncut supply of fish even if in small quantities than extracting fish in large amounts and threatening the survival of the future generations.
Oceans provide a habitat for many creatures that contribute to biodiversity as well as aesthetic appeal. Destroying oceans depletes them of such resources. Just like the present generation only hears about the existence of dinosaurs many years ago, the future generation may also just read about the presence of some features that are currently present and may not get the privilege of seeing them. The regulation of ocean activities such fishing, recreation, and transport ensures that the future generations also enjoy the same benefits the current generation is experiencing. It is also not prudent for activities of human beings to threaten the existence of other equally essential creatures. Instead, human beings have the responsibility of being the custodians of environmental conservation.
Scholars such as Watling (2014) notes that teaching students in schools about ocean maintenance transforms them to be caring and observant. Just the way global warming is being given a lot of emphases, ocean desertification and trawling need to be stressed too. Stramma et al (2016) say that teaching needs to address both bad and the best practices of fishing. By knowing the worst fishing methods, the learners will avoid them and even sensitize the communities in which they come from. Thus, the students will be raised to become responsible citizens who will point out exploitative methods and also seek solutions to address them.
The measures taken by various governments such as the US on creating awareness among their citizens are perhaps the most effective regarding ethics (Pew Oceans Commission, 2013). By the citizens consuming only local seafood which is regulated, countries that do not have measures in place to curb their ocean activities do not get a market for their products. As a result, the nations will need to reevaluate their methods to sell their products. Many countries will, therefore, have no choice but to conform to the standards set by other leading countries. The requirement by the US government that consumers check that the seafood labels are approved by the relevant regulatory bodies is of a lot of significance. The condition locks out unscrupulous individuals who do not care about their fishing methods. Such regulations make citizens in the various countries to be responsible and mindful of the implication of their activities.
Conclusion
Ocean desertification is not only an environmental problem but also a social concern. Many scholars look at the subject from an ecological perspective, making many people believe that the destruction of the oceans does not have an impact on their lives. Despite various reports emerging from media sources such as the occurrence of tsunamis, tornadoes, and cyclones, people still associate them with the overall effects of global warming. While global warming is the main reason brought forth, it is vital for individuals to narrow down to the specifics. The creation of global warming is a result of cumulative factors such as exploitative activities carried out by human beings in the oceans. As mentioned in the article, fishing methods such as trawling are the main reason why oceans continue to lose biodiversity and other critical natural resources. Experts warn that if human beings do not regulate their activities, changes in the sea may threaten their existence in the future. Individuals may lose their jobs, food, and habitat. It is therefore essential that human beings use the available ocean resources in moderation and avoid using techniques that may deplete the ocean of critical resources.
References
Jan Geert Hiddink, S. J. (2017). Global analysis of depletion and recovery of seabed biota after bottom trawling disturbance. (N. C. Stenseth, Ed.) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114 (31), 8301-8306. doi:10.1073/pnas.1618858114
Watling, L. (2014). Trawling exerts big impacts on small beasts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111 (24), 8704-8705. doi:10.1073/pnas.1407305111
Stramma, L., Levin, L. A., Schmidt, S., & Johnson, G. C. (2016). Tropical ocean desertification and biological impacts. Deep-Sea Res., in review .
Thompson, J. D. (2017). Ocean deserts and ocean oases. Climatic Change , 1 (3), 205-230.
Zhao, H. L., Zhao, X. Y., Zhang, T. H., & Zhou, H. Y. (2014). Plant strategies and vegetation stability in desertification process–China Ocean press.
MacIntyre, F. E. R. R. E. N., Estep, K. W., & Noji, T. T. (2015). Is it deforestation or desertification when we do it to the ocean?. Naga, the ICLARM Quarterly , 18 (3), 4-6.
Pew Oceans Commission. (2013). America's living oceans: charting a course for sea change.
Jones, J. (1992, January). Environmental impact of trawling on the seabed: A review. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 26 (1), 59-67. doi:10.1080/00288330.1992.9516500
Dayton, S. F. (2002, November). Disturbance to Marine Benthic Habitats by Trawling and Dredging: Implications for Marine Biodiversity. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 33 , 449-473. doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.33.010802.150515
Antonio Pusceddu, S. B. (2014, June). Chronic and intensive bottom trawling impairs deep-sea biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 11 (24), 8861-8866. doi:10.1073/pnas.1405454111
