Save our Sea

"Ocean overfishing is simply the taking of wildlife from the sea at rates too high for fished species to replace themselves." -National Geographic Our mission is to not only promote change, but to make it.

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Sharks and Finning

Shark-finning: the extremely inhumane process by which a shark's fins are sliced off (only 2% of a shark's body) before the shark is tossed back into the ocean to die a slow, remarkably painful death. According to the Stop Shark Finning campaign, "The sharks either starve to death, are eaten alive by other fish, or drown (if they are not in constant movement their gills cannot extract oxygen from the water). Shark fins are being 'harvested' in ever greater numbers to feed the growing demand for shark fin soup, an Asian 'delicacy.'" 

In regards to laws against shark-finning, A.I.M. Research (based in Costa Rica) claims that "only a few countries demand that sharks arrive in port with fins attached." Thankfully, former president Bill Clinton signed a bill twelve years ago (Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000) that would include the United States in the small group of nations that bans finning. 

Our involvement, however, should not stop there. Shark-finning is still a global crisis and, while it may not appear to affect us directly, there are almost always ripple-effects to depletion and environmental crises around the globe. We encourage you to sign petitions, spread the word, send letters, attend events in your area and to find ways to benefit your own community.

While we may be unable to stop shark-finning on our own, our efforts will not go unnoticed. 

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Sand Eels and Devastation

The sand eel, as many are shown above in the beak of an Atlantic Puffin, is a small eel-like fish that swims in large schools close to the seabed floor. Their name derives from their tendency to burrow deep into the sand at the first sight of danger. They are mainly found off the coast of Europe and in the Mediterranean and Baltic seas. 

This small fish is extremely abundant and, therefore, is hunted by many species. Larger fish and birds seek sand eels as prey while humans obtain sand eels to use as bait for fishing and for fish oil products. Therefore, the sand eel is extremely important to our ecosystem.

Because of their many valuable uses, the sand eel population has been declining at a rapid rate. There are many contributors to the sand eel decline, some of which include  over-fishing, the global climate change and a decline in other species of animals.

Over-fishing: It is estimated that over 100 billion sand eels are caught for fish meal and fish oil annually, and this number is only accounting human participation. In addition to this number, an extremely large amount of sand eels are being hunted by larger fish and birds, a number that is impossible to account for. Because of this, it is difficult for the sand eel to replace all that is taken from the seas, causing the population to severely decrease.

Global climate change: There is some evidence that suggests the shorelines where the sand eel resides are becoming inhabitable for the species due to a change in water temperature. The warmer seas are causing the sand eels to abandon their natural habitat and seek out more adaptable areas. 

Bird population decline: One of the strongest indicators of sand eel endangering is the Puffin population decline. The bird is a sand eel predator and the fish acts as the bird’s main diet. In recent years, the Puffin population has suffered a rapid decline which has been attributed to the declining numbers of sand eels. 

Awareness of sand eel deprivation must be achieved. Although it is a small fish that may be over looked, it is important to understand how crucial to our ecosystem this fish is. It may not be the biggest predator or at the top of the food chain, but it is close to the base, making it equally as important. Without the sand eel, many species would falter (similar to the Puffin). Some countries have made changes by placing fishing restrictions on the sand eel, which has proved to be successful. If more countries adapt these minor changes, the sand eel population would be able to grow and the other species that rely on this tiny fish will be able to thrive once more. 

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Fish and Bycatch

Every year, the amount of fish caught by human beings is astoundingly high.  It is estimated that approximately 120 million tons of fish are taken from our oceans annually, including ocean creatures of all sizes ranging from shellfish to whales.

Of these 120 million tons, a quarter never makes it to market: about 27 million tons. One phenomenon that is responsible for this extremely large number is bycatch. Bycatch is the term used for fish that are unintentionally caught, in the sense that they may be of a different species than the intended fish, as well as undersized or underdeveloped. 

One of the main reasons bycatch is so prominent is that many different schools of fish are found in areas together. When fishing, it is difficult to separate the different types of fish and, as a result, bycatch occurs (seagrant.gso.uri.edu/factsheets/Bycatch.html).

Bycatch is virtually unavoidable and thus, a process in which almost every fisherman will participate. Because of its prevalence, it also highly contributes to the overfishing crisis that has struck the oceans in recent years and is known as “total fishing mortality.”

Oftentimes, a bycatch cannot be used and must be thrown back to the sea, this process is called discard. More often than not, the fish thrown back to sea will not survive due to injuries sustained from the catch. Some arguments have been made to support discarded bycatch deaths by stating that the dead fish serves as food for other species of ocean creatures. However, this is not a natural occurring process and while it may give the feeding species an opportunity to thrive and reproduce, it could eventually lead to overpopulation of the fish that feeds.

Recently, according to Rhode Island Sea Grant, fishermen have been adapting fishing gear to specific species. This will help to ensure that only the intended types of fish are caught and the negative effects of bycatch are eliminated, or at least lessened. In addition to the more advanced fishing gear, education will also assist in the reduction of bycatch. By knowing the implications and being aware of the issue, individuals may cooperate with the efforts to help save the marine life. 

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Fish and Us

Concerned citizens/students/educators/whomever you may be:

We, as Communication majors at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, are seeking to educate our peers and neighbors in the global climate crisis in relation to fish depletion in New England and Greater New York. We are here not only to educate, but also to motivate you to be a part of this movement and to help save our sea. 

Going forward, we will be sharing our ideas as well as the ideas of others in regards to the issues surrounding fish depletion. We welcome all comments, questions and concerns and we encourage you to start your own movement, share your stories and to join us as we write our own.

Cheers,

Jackie and Dane