Economics and Fishing: Solutions

Due to the decrease in the available fish populations, environmental scientists have found new ways to harvest the amount of fish demanded by the economy while allowing fish populations to replenish themselves. Without giving marine ecosystems the time to restore themselves, the fish populations would be depleted past the point of restoration. The two most effective methods of protecting marine diversity while maintaining the fishing industry are the establishment of aquaculture and marine reserves.

            Aquaculture and marine reserves take different approaches to protecting marine biodiversity, but both increase the supply of fish available for the industry. Aquaculture is a form of industrialized fishing where genetically modified fish are raised on farms. These fish are larger and are raised in larger numbers; that way, local fish populations aren't harmed and the supply of fish can be controlled. On the other hand, marine reserves establish protected areas from which no resources are allowed to be drawn. This allows the fish populations to naturally restore themselves, and fishermen can catch the overflow from the reserves, further increasing the supply of fish available to the market.

The Official Website of the Office of Sustainable Fisheries