The production and collection of food in the ocean biome is not all fun and games. Things such as overfishing, by-catches, coastal habitat destruction, pollution, depletion of species and bottom trawling, all have negative, devastating effects on the ocean biome. Many of these actions are interconnected with one another.
OverfishingOverfishing is one of the most devastating and relevant issues today. Overfishing is when the oceans are excessively farmed for fish, which rapidly depletes fish populations and species. Australians on average, devour 25kg of seafood each year, according to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. To sustain this demand for seafood, mass amounts of fish must be farmed, resulting in overfishing. Countries such as China, the US, European Union member states and Korea have overfished their own waters and are directing their fleet towards Australian and Pacific waters. If this constant fishing continues, there will be no fish left. Overfishing has many negative impacts on ocean biomes such as the destruction of ecosystems, as overfishing throws the food chain out of balance. Overfishing also causes a lack of biodiversity.
By-catchesBy-catching also has a negative impact on ocean biomes. By-catch is when an unintended creature becomes caught in nets. For example, a seal may perhaps get caught in a fishing net intended for fish. By-catch can be held part responsible for the depletion of different marine species as well as ruining marine ecosystems and biodiversity. By-catch has similar effects as overfishing.
Marine Habitat DestructionMany marine habitats are being destroyed due to many different aspects. Things such as pollution and poisoning contribute to habitat destruction. Habitat destruction ties in very closely with pollution. Habitat destruction has a devastating effect on marine life. It leaves creatures without a home and ruins the marine food chain.
PollutionPollution has one of the most extensive impacts on the ocean biome. General waste, boat emissions and fishing nets all contribute to ocean pollution. Pollution contributes to habitat destruction and also contributes to the depletion of marine species. Rubbish such as plastic bags and bottles dirty the water and get stuck in coral and seaweed patches and then waits to seek out a new marine victim. The ABC estimates that hundreds of millions of fish are killed each year due to pollution. Pollution is an issue that must definitely be stopped.
Depletion of SpeciesMany factors contribute to the depletion of fish and marine species. These factors include pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction and by-catching. With marine species rapidly depleting due to all these devastating factors, in just a short time, there will be far too many endangered and extinct species. Endangered marine species in Australia include the southern bluefin tuna, speartooth shark, silver perch and olive sawfish. These creatures are all vital to the ocean biome in their own individual way and they need to be preserved.
Bottom TrawlingBottom trawling is when fishing boats suspend their nets so far in the water that they drag along the ground. The dragging of these nets stirs up sediment laying on the sea floor, which then creates a cloud of dust and rock throughout oceanic areas. These clouds kill off many corals, fish, sponges and other marine animals. Bottom trawling is simple to fix and it must be abolished to protect the ocean biome and the creatures it houses.
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The above diagram, shows how overfishing and factors effect the ocean biome and its inhabitants. Image courtesy of www.worldculturepictorial.com.
The above image pictures a shark entangled in a net specified for fish. Image courtesy of atlanticsharks.org.
This above image shows a series of boats responsible for an oil spillage. Boat emissions are a major cause of marine habitat destruction. Image courtesy of www.seathos.org.
The above chart shows the percentages of what pollutes the ocean. Image courtesy of www.graphs.com.
This diagram describes bottom trawling and its causes. Image courtesy of news.bbc.co.uk.
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