Fisheries and conservation Flashcards
When did humans first exploit marine resources, and where?
150,000–100,000 years ago in South Africa and Europe, by both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.
Why is fishing significant in human culture?
Fishing is deeply embedded in human history and cultural identity, especially in island and coastal communities, even among those not directly involved in fishing.
What role did fishing play in the Brexit debate?
Fishing symbolized heritage and national identity, showing the cultural importance of the industry despite limited direct ties among the population.
What was Aeschylus’ view of marine resources in 400 BCE?
He believed the sea’s resources were inexhaustible.
What did Thomas Henry Huxley say about fisheries in 1884?
He claimed that major fisheries, like cod, were inexhaustible and that regulating them was unnecessary.
Why was Huxley’s statement incorrect?
Even as Huxley spoke, North Atlantic whale populations were in decline due to overhunting for oil, and by the late 19th century, fisheries had proven depletable.
What technological advancements increased fishing pressure in the 19th and 20th centuries?
The shift from wind to steam and oil-powered fleets dramatically increased fishing capacity.
What is the ‘Tragedy of the Commons’?
It describes how shared resources, like fish stocks, are overexploited when individuals act in their own self-interest, leading to depletion.
What is Graham’s Law of Fisheries?
It states that as fisheries are overexploited, catches decrease, and efforts to maintain yields lead to further declines in fish populations.
How are shifting baselines relevant to fisheries?
People often accept degraded ecosystems as normal, basing expectations on their own experiences rather than historical abundance.
Define ‘fishery’ in fisheries science.
A combination of a biological fish population and the human fishers, defined by species, region, or both (e.g., Barents Sea cod fishery).
What is a ‘stock’?
A reproductively isolated part of a fish population, managed as a single unit for sustainability.
What is a ‘recruit’?
A fish that survives from egg to reproductive (or legal fishery) age.
Define ‘yield’ in fisheries.
The number or economic value of fish produced by recruits and available for harvest.
Why must fisheries be managed?
To prevent overfishing, ensure stock replenishment, maintain ecosystem health, and sustain long-term economic and ecological benefits.