Issues and decisions 1
Should Restrictions Be Used to Revive Declining Fish Populations?
Many people are aware of the depletion of natural resources and are trying to conserve or recycle
them. But most people are not aware of the problem of declining fish populations in lakes, rivers, and
coastal waters. Of the 236 fish species in United States coastal waters, 67 are being overfished, and 61
more are in danger of being overfished. To help protect the supply of fish and maintain the balanced
ecosystem in which the fish live, the United States government, as well as governments of other
nations, have imposed regulations on fishing.
Changes in the sizes of fish populations add to the problem of overfishing. If fish are present
in unusually large numbers for some reason, fisheries invest in more equipment, boats, and workers to
harvest the surplus. Once these stocks have been used up, the fisheries have to continue to make
payments for their extra boats and equipment, even though these are no longer being used. Workers
lose their jobs and fisheries often ask the government for financial assistance. These problems could
be avoided if fisheries would agree to hold back from intense fishing during times of surplus. This is a
lot to ask of hard-working people who want to have a good financial year.
Restrictions on Fishing
Determining the maximum number of fish that can be harvested without seriously affecting the
population is a difficult task. Fisheries and federal and state governments rely on recommendations
from scientists. Scientists do not always agree on the causes for the decline of particular fish species,
and none can predict the future of any given fish population with great accuracy.
Overfishing in the United States is not a recent problem. People were aware of the problem in
the late 1800s. As early as 1932, the United States and Canada set catch limits to protect the
populations of some fish species. In 1976, the U.S. Congress passed the Magnuson Fishery
Conservation and Management Act. This law imposed stricter catch limits and shortened fishing
seasons. Despite these regulations, fish populations of many different species are still declining.
In November 1993, Congress went further to regulate catch limits and fishing seasons. This
new law focused on the shallow waters of the Atlantic shoreline. Traditionally, the regulation of
inshore waters that extend to about 5 kilometers from the coastline was left to the states. The federal
government formerly had regulated only the deeper waters beyond that range, with laws like the
Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Because many species of Atlantic fish
migrate, laws need to be standardized for all the coastal states. This is usually not the case. The new
federal law requires the coastal states to agree on fishing seasons and catch limits for species common
to those states. If a state refuses to follow these guidelines, the federal government has the power to
declare a moratorium (MOR-ah-TOR-ee-uhm), demanding a halt to all fishing in that state for those
involved species of fish.
The Atlantic is not the only area that is affected by overfishing and is strictly regulated.
Pacific halibut populations off the coast of Alaska had declined to a point where the fishing season
was limited to two 24-hour periods. During this short time 600 million pounds of halibut were
harvested.
Effects of Fishing Restriction
The main purpose of laws that restrict fishing is to revive declining fish populations. These
laws keep the species from extinction and also help conserve a natural resource. Setting catch limits
helps prevent a species from becoming endangered. Shortening fishing seasons allows the fish to grow
without interference for a longer time.
Some evidence already shows that these regulations can aid in reviving declining fish
populations. Many species have been helped by fishing limits. The striped bass population of the
Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay had almost been wiped out when Congress ordered strict limits on its
harvesting. A decade later, large numbers of striped bass now live in these areas and are available to
recreational and commercial fishers, but they are still strictly regulated.
Other marine animals also benefit from government regulation. The banning of driftnets
protects whales and dolphins. Special nets used in the harvesting of shrimp have “turtle excluders,” or
escape hatches, so that sea turtles and fish can swim out of the nets. These regulations also aim at
preserving entire ecosystems, not just a few species of organisms in the ecosystem.
Opposition to Fishing Restrictions
The major opposition to strict fishing regulations comes from the fishing industry. Some
opponents doubt that making laws will solve the problem of declining fish populations, because more
factors than overfishing are involved in the problem. Many commercial fishers invest large amounts of
money in the boats and equipment used to harvest fish. If the fish season is greatly reduced, they must
lay off workers. A controversial ban on cod fishing in Canada caused 20,000 Newfoundland workers
to lose their jobs. If a large percentage of a town’s population is involved in the fishing industry, the
resulting unemployment is likely to hurt the town’s economy.
When fishing seasons are reduced to very short spans of time, as in the case of the Pacific
halibut, other problems arise. These short seasons force laborers to work around the clock at an
extremely fast pace. Under these exhausting conditions, work-related accidents and injuries are more
likely to occur.
Overfishing alone is not entirely responsible for the declining populations of fish in fresh
waters and in oceans. The building of dams can kill fish or prevent them from breeding. The loss of a
species’ habitat due to human activities affects populations of fish. These problems also need to be
addressed. Consumers could broaden their tastes to include fish species with plentiful stocks, such as
mackerel and pollock. There might then be less demand for fish with less plentiful stocks.
Review
1. How do natural changes in fish populations affect overfishing?
2. How do laws that regulate fishing protect fish populations?
3. How does the 1993 federal law on fishing regulation differ from previous laws?
4. What are the drawbacks to legislation limiting fish catches and establishing shorter fishing seasons?
5. List four reasons why fish populations are declining in lakes, rivers, and oceans.
Decisions
1. Suppose you are a politician representing the interests of a small community whose economic
health depends on the fishing industry. How would you approach the problem of the overfishing of
nearby species?
2. Do you think federal laws regulating the fishing industry are necessary? Why or why not?