What does overfishing mean for the ocean? (Secondary) - Lesson Two
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Lesson duration is: 45 minIntroduction
Lesson 2 – Why is overfishing happening?
This lesson discusses some of the reasons behind overfishing.
Learning activities:
Investigate the changes in fishing since the 1950’s, and its impacts.
Instructions
Time: 45 minutes
Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2022
Instructions
Items in this lesson
Slide 1 - Slide
This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year.
Slide 2 - Slide
During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
Why is overfishing
happening?
happening?
Slide 3 - Mind map
Ask students: “Why is overfishing of species occurring?”
Slide 4 - Slide
One of the reasons for overfishing of the ocean is the high level of demand for fish. It is estimated that over 100 million tons of fish is caught from the ocean each year. Fish is the largest traded commodity in the world.
Why is demand high?
Slide 5 - Mind map
Ask students to complete their answer to the following question using the www.LessonUp.app or discuss in classroom.
“Why is the demand for fish is so high? “
“Why is the demand for fish is so high? “
Slide 6 - Slide
Overfishing is a result of the growing demand for seafood as our global population rapidly increases.
The global population has risen from 1 billion in 1804 to 3.04 billion in 1960 to 7.3 billion people in 2015. While the global population is rapidly increasing, our natural resources, including from the ocean, are decreasing.
Eating seafood has also grown in popularity over the years, being promoted as a ‘healthier choice’.
The global population has risen from 1 billion in 1804 to 3.04 billion in 1960 to 7.3 billion people in 2015. While the global population is rapidly increasing, our natural resources, including from the ocean, are decreasing.
Eating seafood has also grown in popularity over the years, being promoted as a ‘healthier choice’.
Slide 7 - Slide
In addition to our growing population what else is driving demand?
Not all the fish caught is for direct human consumption, a portion is used to feed other animals such as domestic pets, like cats, as well as farmed animals like pigs, or farmed marine wildlife like prawns, salmon and tuna.
United States government data shows about 40% of the catch entering the USA is used as feed for farmed animals. It is estimated that 2.48 million tons of fish are used by the global cat food industry every year. Domestic house cats eat more fish, especially tuna, then the world’s seals.
Not all the fish caught is for direct human consumption, a portion is used to feed other animals such as domestic pets, like cats, as well as farmed animals like pigs, or farmed marine wildlife like prawns, salmon and tuna.
United States government data shows about 40% of the catch entering the USA is used as feed for farmed animals. It is estimated that 2.48 million tons of fish are used by the global cat food industry every year. Domestic house cats eat more fish, especially tuna, then the world’s seals.
Slide 8 - Slide
The high demand for fish encourages illegal fishing operations. Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch. In basic terms they are stealing from these waters.
The United Nations estimates that an average 30% of the global fishing catch is considered to be from Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. This amount varies by region from 15% to 40%. We will take a closer look at this issue next lesson.
The United Nations estimates that an average 30% of the global fishing catch is considered to be from Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. This amount varies by region from 15% to 40%. We will take a closer look at this issue next lesson.
Slide 9 - Slide
By-catch is another form of overfishing. The ‘waste’ is the result of industrial fishing, both legal and illegal. It is estimated that around 26% of the global fishing catch is by-catch, also known as discards.
By-catch is basically anything that is caught in fishing nets or on lines, that the fishermen don’t want or are not allowed to legally catch.
Generally, they remove the by-catch from the nets and return it to the ocean. However, many of these animals will have already died before they are freed. By-catch could be other species of fish, turtles, dolphins, sharks or even whales. We will take a closer look at this issue in a future lesson.
By-catch is basically anything that is caught in fishing nets or on lines, that the fishermen don’t want or are not allowed to legally catch.
Generally, they remove the by-catch from the nets and return it to the ocean. However, many of these animals will have already died before they are freed. By-catch could be other species of fish, turtles, dolphins, sharks or even whales. We will take a closer look at this issue in a future lesson.
Slide 10 - Slide
The increasing demand for fish and a desire to make it more cost effective, cheaper for consumers, saw the development of large scale industrial fishing vessels during the mid 1900’s. The vessels and nets were developed to dramatically increase the size of the fishing catch. The number of fishing fleets has also dramatically increased since the 1950’s. With reducing fish numbers, so is the catch. The fishing fleets have doubled in size since 1950’s, but the catch level has reduced.
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Slide 12 - Slide
Refer Teachers Guide for Learning Activities.
