Photo courtesy of James Beard Foundation How much of Earth is Water i n percentages Over 70 97 of the worlds water is in the ocean Oceans Produce over half of the worlds oxygen ID: 1047829
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1. The Oceans & Sustainable Seafood Photo courtesy of James Beard Foundation
2. How much of Earth is Water? (in percentages)Over 70%97% of the world’s water is in the ocean.
3. Oceans… Produce over half of the world’s oxygen That’s what we need to breathe. Store twice as much carbon as the atmosphere This keeps our climate balanced. Allow trade with other countries. Over 76% of U.S. trade comes from ocean transport.Provide us with medicine we need for human health. Are important for many Northwest tribes’ livelihoods and cultures. Contribute $617 billion* to our economy.Ocean-related businesses employ over three million Americans! Recreation and tourism play an important role in coastal communities. Give us food, and not just seafood. Some foods like peanut butter and soy milk have marine products in them.Are a vital part of our life, regardless of where we live! *Data taken from 2018 NOAA Ocean Economy Statistics
4. Only 20% of the oceans have been explored! Scientists think that 90% of species who live in the ocean have yet to be discovered. The Oceans
5. Food and economyOver one billion people on the planet rely on seafood as their main source of protein. It’s the most traded item in the world. This makes seafood a valuable natural resource.
6. Problems with seafood… What happens when everyone tries to use ocean resources?Original amountGraphic courtesy of NOAA fisheriesThere is less!
7. Problems with seafood… If seafood is not caught sustainably, then we may overfish fisheries, and they may disappear. Currently, over one third of global fish stocks are overfished.Photo courtesy of Oceana
8. The good newsNorth American governments, fishers and other community organizations are working together to rebuild fisheries (stocks) and prevent overfishing.*Data taken from 2019 NOAA status of stocks
9. It takes everyone…To prevent overfishing. This means commercial, and recreational fishers must follow guidelines set in place by fisheries managers.
10. Illegal fishingIllegal fishing is an unsustainable way of catching seafood. It involves: Fishing without the proper licenses.Claiming you caught fewer fish than you actually did.Catching species you’re not allowed to catch.Calling a fish a species it is not. Taking fish from areas where you’re not allowed to fish or at times of year you’re not allowed to fish. Catching fish using gear that is not allowed. Salmon caught illegally and confiscated by WDFW police. WDFW enforcement ensures fish are caught at a sustainable level for both recreational and commercial purposes.
11. Illegal fishingIf you and your family are fishing (whether on a lake or near the ocean) it’s important to fish legally to keep the population healthy. But, how do we enforce these rules to make sure people fish sustainably? This video shows how WDFW police protect razor clam fisheries for future generations.
12. It takes a teamIn order to make sure a fishery is sustainable, biologists and managers need to know what a sustainable level of catch is. They must also work together and with other agencies to decide how to share the fish fairly among those who wish to catch it. Sustainable fisheries management involves bringing together information on biology, economics, and other social and cultural aspects of fishing.
13. The science behind managementA WDFW biologist (right) and a Quinault Biologist (left) work together to learn about razor clams and estimate a sustainable harvest of the fishery.Knowing the sustainable level of catch is for a fishery takes a lot of scientific work! Science and collecting data are fundamental pieces. Biologists study the life history of a species, how fast the species grows, how long they lives for, how many eggs they have and offspring they can produce, and more.
14. Counting fish… Scientists run surveys to estimate the size of a fish population and learn how it changes over time. For salmon and other species, it’s possible to survey the fish returning to spawn (breed). Ocean fish can be very difficult to count! Some biologists say counting fish is like counting trees, but they’re invisible and they move.
15. Counting fishCounting what commercial and recreational fishers catch is also important. Sometimes this can be the only source of information fisheries managers have for many species. By knowing how many fish are caught, how big and their age, scientists can make estimates of what the sustainable level of catch should be.
16. Dungeness crabsCatch limits aren’t the only way to sustainably manage fisheries. Washington’s most valuable fishery, Dungeness crab, has no quotas. Managers instead require people to allow male crabs to reproduce at least once. Additionally all females must be returned to water. This ensures enough individuals remain in the population.
17. Sustainable Seafood “Sustainable fishing means leaving enough fish in the ocean, minimizing damage to marine [lake, or river] life and habitats and ensuring people who depend on fishing can maintain their livelihoods.”Information from Marine Sustainability Council
18. How can we avoid overfishing?We must work together. Using laws, science, and teamwork we can keep our fisheries sustainable!