Overfishing Our Oceans

       In today's waters, out of check fishing has put some species in great danger. The problem with overfishing is that it not only kills off a single species, but disrupts an ecosystem. For example the Indian ocean has seen a huge population growth in jellyfish, due to a lack of fish predators. The methods used for mass fishing today are rather questionable too. Huge nets are used to catch the fish and this often will trap other species such a turtles and sharks. Even though the stock of fish is in peril, a market still exists so people will still supply.

       The main force that is driving the fishing frenzy is greed. The fisherman know that populations are being depleted, but every company only thinks about the coming years haul and the fact that there are still enough fish to make a profit. This is a greed of the present, with no regard to the future. The fisheries just plan to move to a new fish once one is depleted. This business model is profitable, even if it a boom and bust for local fisheries. There is always going to be demand and then there will be those willing to meet it, no matter what the cost. A man can get rich off of a few good fishing seasons and then walk away from the business and leave the fishermen with out a job or fish to catch.

       The reason this can keep happening is the lack of regulation on the oceans. Past the coastline, the ocean is no one's territory and the only laws that can be put into effect are international laws which can be hard for every country to reach a settlement on. Even with laws in place, it is still hard to actually patrol an ocean for illegal fishing. An Island Civilization would stop the harvest of these fish because they would not be allowed to tamper with it at all. Bluefin Tuna was in serious danger of being depleted, with the population only 15% of what it was historically. There was a vote to determine a severe cut on the fishing of Bluefin in the Mediterranean. The cut was not enacted as most votes were against and a choice was made. The choice that was made was economy over environment. In an Island Civilization world, Nature would have rights over a situation like this. The selfishness here is putting human desires above planetary needs. Until the Earth is given respect for what it produces, selfish slaughter will continue till the point of no return. 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=bluefin-tuna-stocks-threatened-cites-japan-monaco&page=2