1. Did you know…
The global fishing fleet is 2.5 X greater than our ocean ecosystem can support
Serious threat on fish species and could take decades to recover

2. Unit 6: Resources and Sustainability Ms. Thind
Ocean Sustainability
Unit 6: Resources and Sustainability
Ms. Thind

3. Why are oceans important?
Planetary ecosystem
Regulate temperature
Starting point of the hydrological cycle
Carbon sink
Provide a source of food
Provide leisure activities

4. Overfishing
Non sustainable use of the ocean  catch is well over sustainable yield
Main problem affecting ocean fishery

5. Overfishing: How? Why?
Technological advances: tracking systems to catch fish
Poor regulation and planning
Dragnets and Driftnet fishing: “vacuum” the sea  at times are cut off and are left in the ocean  ghost fishing
Dynamite fishing
Cyanide: squirted into coral cavities to stun fish  easy to catch  kills other coral and reef organisms

6. Overfishing: Results? Depletion of fish species
Disruption of food chain
Staple food  source of protein being depleted
Harmful to economies that rely on fishing
Increased practice of aquaculture and fish farming

7. Aquaculture
the farming of freshwater and saltwater organisms, implies the cultivation of aquatic populations under controlled conditions.
Used to increase availability of protein, sport fishing, and farming of expensive species: shrimp and lobster for $$

8. Fish Farming
leads to higher than normal levels of fish waste in the water
Unused feed and waste products can contaminate the sea floor and cultured fish can escape from these pens.
Crowded conditions at fish farms will lead to an increased risk of diseases, which can spread to wild fish

9. Ocean Pollution Subject to pollution from: Recreational boating
Offshore oil drilling
Illegal dumping by cruise ships
Agricultural run off
Sewage waste
Industrial waste

10. Why should we care?
Equivalent to tropical rainforest: ability to produce oxygen (phytoplankton) and absorb carbon dioxide.
Protect important source of food
Diminishes the biodiversity of marine life
Toxicity levels in fish species will pose a threat to human health