Chapter 5: Oceans and Fisheries Flashcards
Q: What types of food are sourced from the ocean?
A: Fish, including true fish, finfish, shellfish, and other sea animals.
Q: Where are fish primarily located in the ocean?
A: On the continental shelves where the water is shallow and light can penetrate.
Q: How does overfishing affect marine biodiversity?
A: It reduces biodiversity and disrupts the food chain.
Q: What materials are commonly mined from the ocean?
A: Salt, diamonds, sand, and gravel.
Q: What is one environmental impact of mining sand and gravel from the ocean?
A: It can cause physical damage to the seabed.
Q: What is upwelling?
A: The process where minerals from the ocean floor are brought to the surface by currents.
Q: How is oil extracted from the ocean?
A: By offshore drilling rigs.
Q: How is the transport of goods primarily achieved across oceans?
A: By ships, though aviation has replaced ships for passenger transport.
Q: Why are fish populations often found in shallow continental shelves?
A: Due to abundant oxygen and phytoplankton.
Q: How much energy could be produced if wave energy is fully harnessed?
A: Twice the present world energy production.
Q: What is a potential environmental impact of offshore drilling?
A: Delicate particle clouds can interfere with photosynthesis and introduce heavy metals into food chains.
Q: What is a limiting factor for phytoplankton growth?
A: Light is often the limiting factor, as phytoplankton need light, CO2, and water.
Q: What are some popular seaside tourist activities?
A: Diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, jet skiing, deep-sea fishing, and sunbathing.
Q: What causes tidal energy?
A: The gravitational pull of the moon and sun causes water in the sea to move up and down twice daily.
Q: What is overfishing?
A: When fish are caught faster than they can reproduce, leading to a decline in fish populations.
Q: Where are cold ocean currents typically found?
A: Near the north and south poles.
Q: What determines the direction of ocean currents in the Southern Hemisphere?
A: They usually move in an anti-clockwise direction.
Q: How can small mesh sizes in fishing nets impact fish populations?
A: They catch juvenile fish, reducing the number that grow to maturity and reproduce.
Q: What is a Fish Aggregation Device (FAD)?
A: A device that attracts fish together for easier capture but can result in large bycatch.
Q: What phenomenon is described by the term “El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)”?
A: A change in prevailing winds that disrupts upwelling and affects fish populations.
Q: What role do international agreements play in managing fisheries?
A: They regulate fishing in international waters and aim to conserve marine resources.
Q: Why are fishing quotas sometimes ineffective?
A: Fishers may avoid quotas by not declaring their actual catch or using illegal methods.
Q: What is aquaculture?
A: The farming of freshwater fish in controlled environments.
Q: What are protected areas and reserves in fisheries management?
A: Areas where fishing is restricted or prohibited to protect breeding grounds and fish habitats.
Q: What is the purpose of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)?
A: To regulate fisheries in international waters and enforce conservation laws.
Q: What is a common issue with fishing quotas?
A: They can be avoided by not declaring the actual catch or using illegal fishing practices.
Q: What is bycatch and why is it problematic?
A: Bycatch includes non-target species caught unintentionally, which can lead to declines in these populations and disrupt marine ecosystems.
Q: What challenge is associated with monitoring fishery laws and agreements?
A: The vastness of the oceans makes it difficult to effectively monitor and enforce regulations.
Q: What is one way tourism impacts the ocean environment?
A: Tourism can lead to pollution and habitat disturbance, though it also raises awareness about marine conservation.
Q: What is one disadvantage of mariculture?
A: It is more prone to diseases and less likely to be successful due to pollution from waste.
Q: What is mariculture?
A: Aquaculture practiced in marine environments, such as closed sections of the ocean or tanks filled with seawater.
Q: What is the purpose of fishing quotas?
A: To set limits on the amount and type of fish that can be caught to ensure sustainable fish populations.
Q: What is the advantage of pole and line fishing?
A: It is very selective and results in almost no bycatch.
Q: Why might governments implement closed seasons for fisheries?
A: To protect fish during their breeding season and ensure their populations can replenish.
Q: What is the Economic Exclusion Zone?
A: The zone around a country’s coastline that is under that country’s control.
Q: What impact does the resettling of particle clouds from offshore drilling have?
A: It interferes with photosynthesis and can introduce heavy metals into the food chain.
Q: What is a primary reason for overfishing?
A: Increasing demand for fish due to a growing world population.
Q: How can illegal fishing practices impact marine conservation efforts?
A: They undermine efforts to manage and protect fish populations and habitats effectively.
Q: What is bycatch?
A: Animals caught unintentionally during fishing, not the target species.
Q: Why is it important to use a square mesh panel in fishing nets?
A: It helps to reduce bycatch and allows juvenile fish to escape, promoting sustainable fish populations.
Q: Why are monitoring organizations more successful in ports?
A: Because it is easier to monitor and regulate fishing activities in concentrated areas.
Q: How does overexploitation of fisheries affect wild fish populations?
A: It leads to declines in wild populations, prompting the need for farming fish in controlled environments.
Q: What is a significant challenge associated with extracting diamonds from the ocean floor?
A: The ocean floor needs to be dredged, which is a complex process.
Q: How does upwelling contribute to the fishing industry?
A: Upwelling brings nutrient-rich water to the surface, supporting phytoplankton growth and fish populations.
Q: What does the Economic Exclusion Zone encompass?
A: The area around a country’s coastline that is controlled by that country for managing marine resources.
Q: How does aquaculture help alleviate pressure on wild fish populations?
A: It provides a controlled environment for fish farming, reducing the need to catch wild fish.
Q: How does wave energy compare to current world energy production?
A: Wave energy has the potential to produce twice the present world energy production.
Q: How does the gravitational pull of the moon and sun affect tides?
A: It causes the water to move up and down twice daily, creating tidal energy.
Q: What effect does the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) have on phytoplankton?
A: ENSO disrupts upwelling, leading to a decrease in phytoplankton due to nutrient-poor water.
Q: What is the significance of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)?
A: It establishes guidelines for managing marine resources and protecting ocean environments in international waters.
Q: What is one benefit of closed seasons in fisheries management?
A: They help protect fish during breeding periods, allowing populations to recover and replenish.
Q: What impact does bycatch have on marine ecosystems?
A: It can lead to the decline of non-target species and disrupt the balance of marine food chains.
Q: What is a potential issue with fishing in protected areas?
A: Fishers may trespass into these areas, undermining conservation efforts and impacting fish populations.
Q: How do fishing quotas help maintain fish populations?
A: They limit the amount and types of fish that can be caught, ensuring that enough fish remain to reproduce and sustain the fishery.
Q: What is the purpose of implementing protected areas in fisheries management?
A: To conserve fish habitats and ensure breeding populations are maintained.
Q: What is a significant advantage of using pole and line fishing methods?
A: It is very selective and results in minimal bycatch, making it environmentally friendly.
Q: Why is it challenging to enforce international fishing agreements?
A: Due to the vastness of the oceans and the potential for illegal fishing activities.
Q: How can fish farming benefit marine ecosystems?
A: By reducing the pressure on wild fish populations and preventing overfishing.
Q: What is a common issue with fishing practices that use small mesh sizes?
A: They capture juvenile fish, reducing the number of fish that mature and reproduce.
Q: What challenge do monitoring organizations face in managing fisheries?
A: The vastness of the oceans makes it difficult to effectively monitor and enforce fishing regulations.
Q: What is one disadvantage of aquaculture in terms of environmental impact?
A: It can lead to pollution from fish waste, which may affect local ecosystems.
Q: How does the use of Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) affect marine life?
A: They can result in large bycatch and capture of younger fish, impacting fish populations.
Q: What are some common recreational activities that attract tourists to seaside areas?
A: Diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, jet skiing, deep-sea fishing, and sunbathing.
Q: How does tidal energy generate electricity?
By harnessing the movement of water caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon, which creates tidal currents.
What environmental impact can occur from sand and gravel mining in the ocean?
A: Physical damage to the seabed, which can disrupt marine habitats.
Q: What is the main cause of reduced fish size in areas of overfishing?
A: The selective removal of larger fish, which leads to an increase in the proportion of smaller fish.
Q: What are the main factors that limit phytoplankton growth in the ocean?
A: Light availability, carbon dioxide (CO2), and mineral nutrients are essential for phytoplankton photosynthesis.
Q: Why is it important to manage fishing nets to avoid catching juvenile fish?
A: To ensure that juvenile fish can grow to maturity and reproduce, which helps maintain sustainable fish populations.
