Experts hopeful overfishing can be solved
Photo: NOAA
Experts say they’re hopeful that the problem of overfishing will end in the United States by the year 2010.
That’s with the help of a law called the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Conservation Reauthorization Act. Earth & Sky spoke to Steve Murawski, chief science advisor for the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Steve Murawski: Before Magnuson Reauthorization, there was no requirement that we had to end overfishing in a certain way. And so, there was no deadline for ending overfishing.
Overfishing has been recognized as one of the major challenges of the 21st century. Murawksi said about 4 dozen species are defined as being overfished. Overfishing happens when the rate of commercial fishing outpaces fishes’ ability to reproduce and regenerate.
When certain species of fish disappear from the ecosystem, other fish that aren’t as valuable for fishing move in and dominate, knocking the ecosystem out of balance. This has happened in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where dogfish have come to replace cod and halibut.
President Bush signed the new law in January of 2007. It’s said to be better in several respects: better catch limits, more accountability and calls for increased international cooperation.
Our thanks today to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Information from NOAA on Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Conservation Act reauthorization
Grouper price soars as diners demand the real thing
Our thanks to:
Steve Murawski
Director of Scientific Program sand Chief Science Advisor
NOAA Fisheries
Washington, DC
Additional Teacher Resources
American Association for the Advancement of Science: All Current Fish, Seafood Species Projected to Collapse by 2048
This article provides a synopsis of a report published in the journal, Science. It discusses the decline of marine species and what we can do to turn this trend around.
NOAA: NOAA Fisheries – Office of Protected Resources
This web page provides links to lesson plans for educators on the conservation of marine life, food chains, and more. It also has a section for kids.
The White House: News
The White House Fact Sheet on the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act.
