Food sources in ocean biomes include both plants and animals. The main food source from ocean biomes is fish and other marine life. Few plantations are created in oceanic regions, although plant life does occur naturally in abundance. Plant based foods include seaweeds and various species of roots and algae.
Fishing in AustraliaFishing is a worldwide practice. Fishing is a family pastime and an industrial operation. In Australia, commercial fishing gathers upwards of 50,000 tonnes of seafood each year, as per the Australian Department of Agriculture. Australia's fishing zone, seen to the right, is the third largest in the world. It is 8,148,250 square kilometres, but lacks vital nutrients, resulting in low productivity and low fish populations. Large fishing boats, operated by both small, private companies and large profitable businesses, travel out into the ocean biomes and drop nets into the water, in attempts to scoop up fish.
Farming exists in oceanic regions in the form of 'aquaculture' or 'aquafarming'. Net structures are placed in aquatic areas and creatures become trapped in these nets. Aquaculture practices can be used to farm fish, crustaceans, molluscs and algae species. Currently, there are suggestions of moving aquaculture operations further offshore in a bid to increase efficiency, sanitation and to ultimately meet the rapidly increasing demand for fish across the world. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, aquaculture contributes 34% of seafood production in Australia. Fishing in NigeriaFishing in Nigeria is an excellent scenario to contrast with fishing in Australia.
Nigeria is a country that has difficulty fishing in ocean biomes. Fish is somewhat plentiful in inland streams and rivers though. Due to its geographic position, very little of Nigeria is exposed to the ocean, just one side. Large businesses do not operate out of Nigeria, due to its low potential , leaving the job of fishing to smaller, individual businesses and persons. In a 2014 inquiry by the Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, it was stated that just 39.3% of fisherman used the ocean to fish, placing the 60.7% inland. An article by the economist.com stated that piracy scared fishermen from Nigerian waters. The article stated that 19% of piracy attacks each year occurred on Africa's west coast and that piracy accounted for tonnes of stock being lost. The article, titled,'Pirates wreak havoc', also said that of 30 fishing companies in operation in 2006, just 5 are still active today. Nigeria produces around 40,000 tonnes of fish product each year. This is one fifth less than Australia, most likely lost in the lack of ocean farming. Close to shore aquaculture operations are set up to gather fish. Inland fishermen set up nets, catchments and other devices to trap and collect fish. Fish is the main source of protein for most Nigerian people. Small vs Large Scale FishingThere is a humongous difference between fishing with a rod in the local creek and taking a boat out to sea and filling multiple nets. Large scale commercial fishing rapidly depletes fish stocks and the boats and nets pollute the oceanic waters. Smaller scale, local fishing has a less significant impact on fish stocks and the environment, although mass fishing can slowly lead to reduced fish populations.
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The image above shows various fish swimming throughout different species of seaweed. Image courtesy of www.dreamstime.com.
The above image shows Australia's fishing zone. The blue represents the ocean biome. Image courtesy of www.environment.gov.au.
The above image shows six aquaculture farms. Image courtesy of www.rafts.org.uk.
The above image shows Nigeria and its main river system. At the bottom of the image, the blue patch represents the ocean whilst the blue lines within Nigeria's border shows main rivers in Nigeria. Image courtesy of www.mapsofworld.com.
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