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As members of Mission 2011, we plan to preserve global fisheries by ending overfishing, preserve marine ecosystems, and developing alternative measures to meet nutritional needs. In order to achieve these goals we will need to implement a multifaceted solution including improved management schemes, better technology, and a global education campaign. To end overfishing we propose the use of taxes and quotas, taxes to limit demand, and quotas to limit the total catch being made. In addition we propose to end subsidies supporting unsustainable fishing, but support those that assist the transition to more sustainable fishing methods. Along the lines of technology we advocate using equipment that reduces by-catch and minimizes damage to the oceanic habitat. We also support .
The most important part of our solution is to stop over-fishing in all parts of the , and work towards the recovery of global fisheries. To accomplish this, we propose a two step plan where in national governments would set regulations in order to control the consumption of fish. The primary step would be to initiate an initial system of fishing quotas to control the number of fish from any important population to be caught, thus preventing the collapse and eventually raising the population to more natural levels. We favor the use of individual transferable quotas (ITQs), because evidence shows they are more likely to be successful. The second stage, would be regulation of global fisheries by variable taxes on fish that are taken. The hope is to eventually encourage a shift in economics that would encourage sustainable fishing. In general, we wish to advocate that all fisheries use management practices that effectively accomplish the goal of creating sustainable fisheries and take into account the full complexity of ecosystem.
To aid in our goal of creating and maintaining healthy, sustainable fisheries, we suggest the use of several additional strategies. We advocate the development of a non-government organization (NGO) program to certify fish as sustainably caught, and label them as such, so that concerned consumers would be able to make informed choices about which types of fish they should buy. We also advocate the development and use of fishing technologies that reduce by-catch, and the banning of technologies that are highly destructive to the ocean ecosystem. In countries that have the financial capability, we also advocate the use of GPS tracking systems on fishing boats to monitor fishing activity and enforce fishing regulations. We recognize wish to end the importance of marine protected areas in order to end the over-exploitation of fisheries and aim for ten percent of the oceans to be designated as MPAs. Finally we realize the importance of education in the implementation of any plan and therefore call for a large scale public awareness campaign in which nongovernmental organizations in particular may play an important role.
Ending overfishing is just the beginning of many necessary steps to preserve the marine ecosystems. Our support of new and less destructive technologies along with our advocacy of an educational campaign will take precedence in the recovery of not just fisheries but of the ecosystem as a whole. In addition we see necessity in the continued efforts to curb pollution and end global warming in order to diminish our negative impact, as humans, on the environment. Climate change is just one of many threats to the healthy recovery of the ecosystem. Additionally we recognize the need for accurate scientific data for optimal fishery management. Without monitoring fish populations, we will not be able to implement efficient methods to keep them at a sustainable level, thereby keeping the ocean healthy.
As a result of our plan the overall availability of food supplies will be reduced, therefore requiring new ways to provide necessary nutrition. Although we subsidizing of unsustainable fishing and support providing financial assistance and advice to fishermen in order to help them transition to more environmentally friendly fishing methods. We will create more Marine Protected areas, with the ultimate goal of setting aside a representative 10 percent of the global oceans as "no take" protected zones. This sample should be representative of all types of marine habitats, with emphasis on unique, fragile and threatened ecosystems. We also will minimize the effects of humans on marine environments, which are be harmful towards the health of fisheries. This includes reduction of pollution and emission of greenhouse gases, as well as harmful practices such as dredging ocean floors.
Where possible, we believe that alternatives should be found to capture fisheries. We recognize that our plan will reduce the availability of food supplies; we also recognize that there is a serious debate over the merits of aquaculture, we conclude that it . We conclude, however, that aquaculture may be necessary to implement in order to meet these nutritional needs. Therefore we will endorse with the reductions in fishing that we propose; we therefore encourage the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly aquaculture facilities. Also, while this can only serve as a small portion of our solution, we encourage attempts We also endorse attempts, such as increasing efficiency in agriculture, to find ecologically sound substitutes for fish protein.As we continue to develop better solutions to the problems of the marine ecosystems we see the necessity for more research. Not enough is known about the depths of the oceanic world, but with more scientific data we will be more able to make better management decisions and implement more effective solutions. In addition, with more information about marine species such as migration, distribution, and behavior we will better know how to protect these species. With the reduction of cost of fish tracking technology, this goal will become more achievable. Lastly, we must continue to monitor the ocean and fish populations to replace fish as a nutritional source.
We believe it is important to educate the public about the crisis facing global fisheries and what can be done to resolve it. Informing citizens about the fishery problem is an essential step to implementing the other aspects of our solution. An educated public will also increase pressure on governmental bodies to cooperate in the protection of ocean ecosystems.
Finally, we recognize the need for additional research; not enough is known about fish and marine ecosystems. More research into the oceanic world will enable us to make better management decisions for the world's fisheries. Large scale fish tracking programs are needed to give us more information about the migration, distribution, and behavior of fish. Reductions in the cost of fish tracking technology are necessary in order to achieve this goal. We also advocate the monitoring of the ocean ecosystem to detect changes related to global climate change in order to adapt our plan accordingly.This plan represents a culmination of a semester's worth of research and idea development. Unfortunately we cannot see which areas of our plan need tweaking without , and allow for the necessary changing in fishery management.
It is important to note that our plan will inevitable require modifications after feedback from initial implementation. It is important to note that in our plan we have also incorporated ways to try to deter negative consequences for those whose lifestyles are reliant on the fishing industry. This however must come second to saving the ocean, considering Additionally, it will have to combat criticism that we favor fish over human interests. We believe, however, that having a healthy and sustainable marine ecosystem will be what is best for both human and sea in the long runbenefits both the sea and humanity.
Works Cited
(17 February 2006). Hooked on Fishing, and We're Heading for the Bottom, Says Scientist. EurekAlert. Retrieved on 21 November 2007, from the World Wide Web: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-02/nsae-hof021706.php.
ScienCentral News. (11 November 2006). No Fish by 2050. Retrieved 21 November 2007, from the World Wide Web: http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?type=article&article_id=218392867
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