methods of reducing environmental impacts of fishing

Question 1

list the ways to reduce environmental impacts

Answer 1

1) catch quotas
2) fishing equipment design
3) restricted fishing effort
4) restricted fishing methods

Question 2

outline catch quotas

Answer 2

a set limit on the weight of fish which can be brought back to land- this quota may be dived up amongst all fishing boats in a fleet

work best when found in single species shoals where fishing will stop once quota is met. If there is a surplus excess can be thrown back

Question 3

outline how fishing equipment design can be modified

Answer 3

1) mesh size- ao fish below a certain size can escape
2) escape panels - devices which allow certain species to escape if caught such as turtles
3) hook shape- longline hooks with curved points still catch tuna but not birds
4) sinkers- weights attached to pelagic longlines hold hooks in water so they only catch fish not birds

Question 4

outline restricted fishing effort

Answer 4

limits on the sizes of boats and the power of their engines

limiting the number of days allowed out each year

Question 5

outline some examples of restricted fishing methods

Answer 5

1) ban drift nets/ restricted length
2) no-take zones- fishing in areas that exploit wildlife of damaged habitat are not permitted
3) closed seasons- ban on fishing for part of the year allows the fish to grow to larger sizes and to regenerate populations
4) minimal catchable-size- ban the catching of small fish which allows large numbers of small fish to grow larger and live long enough to breed
5) protected individuals- future protection of young can be increased if adults that are known to breed are protected ie female lobsters caught carrying eggs must be released