What is Sustainable Fishing?
Overfishing has become a problem as oceanic ecosystems are affected by the imbalance. Sustainable fishing is essential as it takes into account the environmental needs and fisheries which require fishing to maintain their livelihood. The practice of sustainable fishing means to leave a large enough population of fish in the seas and to protect their habitats.
Why is Sustainable Fishing Important?
We have to practice or support sustainable fishing to make sure that the fish levels in the ocean are sufficient for the continuation of their species. These numbers are also essential to prevent the endangerment or extinction of a particular species which may cause an imbalance in the food chain.
By using sustainable methods, we can ensure the supply of seafood indefinitely while also fulfilling the demand of the public. With fishing regulations and population monitoring, we can allow fishes to regrow their numbers.
Sustainable fishing also protects the environment by fishing using non-harmful means. This ensures that the habitat of fishes and coral reefs are not destroyed in the process of fishing. Sustainably farmed fish may also reduce demand from wild fisheries and allow fish populations time to rebuild. Consumers can also trust that fish caught by sustainable means have little to none harmful chemicals.
Sustainable Fishing Practices
Spearfishing
This fishing technique has been around for thousands of years and is usually used in freshwater and seawater habitats. The Tagbanua people from the Philippines, hunt different fish species according to the time of the year, which allows for healthy stocks of fish all year-round.
Aquaculture
Though its benefits and drawbacks are still being debated, fish farms do help with the demand for fish from the market. Thus, wild fisheries carry less obligation to fish more.
Fisheries Management
Regulated by the government or by an agency, management of fisheries can also contribute to sustainable fishing. There should be regulations for catch quotas, fishing boundaries and fishing licences.
Diving
Divers can search for shellfish and crustaceans on ocean floors. There are usually found at the floor surface, and divers do not need any special equipment to catch them. However, this process is extremely labour intensive and requires trained divers as it can be quite risky.
Longlining
This technique uses two or more lines at a time, and the line length varies from 25 to over a hundred meters depending on the kind of catch you desire. This method usually catches fish at the surface of the sea, such as tuna.