Super Trawlers Versus The Oceans War Continues.
This is probably the most passion filled article I
have ever written and if you conclude from reading it that I have a major issue
with Super Trawlers, you are completely correct.
I’ve done my best to provide a comprehensive
report on the devastating effects of industrial fishing, particularly with
super trawlers, on the world’s oceans.
The destructive effects of industrial fishing,
particularly super trawlers, on the world’s oceans cannot be overstated.
Thousands of these massive vessels are out there
every day wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems, rapidly depleting fish
populations and causing irreversible damage to ocean habitats.
Super trawlers use destructive practices such as
bottom trawling, which scrapes the ocean floor indiscriminately, destroying
everything in its path, including coral reefs, seagrass beds and other fragile
ecosystems that have taken many thousands of years to develop.
The size of their operations is staggering, with
some vessels capable of catching and processing approximately 7,000 tonnes of
fish each day.
The 7 Main Points I’m Trying To Make Include:
1.
The global fishing industry,
especially super trawlers, has pushed 85% of fish populations to near
extinction.
2.
Current fishing practices are
unsustainable, with the industry operating at three times the oceans’ capacity.
3.
Even if fishing stopped
immediately, it would take 23 years for ocean ecosystems to recover, so please
stop eating seafood today.
4.
Super trawlers cause extensive
damage to marine habitats, including ocean floors and coral reefs.
5.
The destruction of marine
ecosystems threatens not only ocean life but also global climate regulation and
human survival.
6.
Immediate action is needed,
including ceasing seafood consumption, implementing sustainable practices, and
banning super trawlers.
7.
Individual choices, combined with
policy changes, are crucial for ocean conservation.
I’m calling for urgent action from individuals,
governments and the global community to end destructive fishing practices via
Super Trawlers and protect our oceans for future generations.
Table
of Contents:
1.0
Introduction.
2.0 The
Urgent Need to Stop Eating Fish Today!
3.0 The
Impact of Overfishing Is Worse Than You Think.
4.0 The
Importance of Sustainable Fishing Practices.
5.0 We
Need A Worldwide Call to Action.
6.0 We
Seem To Love Super Trawlers, The Bigger The Better?
7.0 We
Can Save Our Oceans, One Person At A Time!
8.0 The
Consequences Of Continuing To Consume Seafood.
9.0 A
Positive Change In Our Thinking Is Required.
10.0
Don’t Wait For A Global Disaster To Happen.
11.0 The
Oceans, Seas & Lakes Of This World.
12.0 Why
are Super Trawlers Such A Huge Problem?
13.0 Why
Am I Worried About Supertrawlers?
14.0
Super Trawlers Do More Harm Then You Realise.
15.0
Super Trawlers Are Equipped To Get Rid Of Dead Marine Life.
16.0 Is
There An Alternative To Destroying The Oceans?
17.0
Maybe Humans Can Do Better In The Future?
18.0
Conclusion: A Call for Immediate Action.
1.0
Introduction.
Despite thousands of scientists around the world
raising serious concerns about the current rate at which humans consume seafood
and the appalling methods used to obtain that seafood, little has changed.
It is now clearer than ever that humans’ failure
to act in accordance with the advice is almost certainly due to our war with
the oceans and all marine life.
To be completely honest, I am not on our side of
this conflict; we are wrong on this one, and we need to stop before we cause any
further harm.
2.0
The Urgent Need to Stop Eating Fish Today!
The oceans are in a state of crisis, and the time
to act is now.
Our insatiable appetite for fish has pushed the
world’s fish populations to the brink of collapse, with a staggering 85% of
them either extinct or on the verge of extinction.
The global fishing industry, driven by massive
super trawlers that indiscriminately destroy everything in their path, has
grown to a size three times larger than what the oceans can sustainably
support.
Even if we were to stop eating fish today, the
damage we have inflicted on the marine ecosystem is so severe that it would
take a staggering 23 years for it to recover.
The decimation of fish stocks, the destruction of
ocean floors, and the endangerment of countless marine species have pushed the
oceans to the brink of ecological collapse.
3.0
The Impact of Overfishing Is Worse Than You Think.
Overfishing is not just a threat to the fish
themselves; it has far-reaching consequences for the entire marine ecosystem.
As fish populations dwindle, the delicate balance
of the ocean’s food chain is disrupted; leading to cascading affects that
ripple through the entire ecosystem.
Predator species struggle to find food, while prey
species proliferate unchecked, leading to imbalances that can have catastrophic
consequences.
Furthermore, the methods used by industrial
fishing fleets are incredibly destructive. Bottom trawling, for example,
involves dragging heavy nets across the ocean floor, destroying fragile
habitats like coral reefs and sea grass beds that serve as nurseries for
countless marine species.
4.0
The Importance of Sustainable Fishing Practices.
While the situation is dire, there is still a
glimmer of hope that if we act now, we can at least guarantee a better
situation for our grandchildren.
By embracing sustainable fishing practices and
implementing strict regulations on the fishing industry, we can give the oceans
a chance to recover.
This includes establishing significantly more marine
protected areas, implementing catch limits based on scientific data, and
promoting the use of more selective and environmentally friendly fishing gear.
Additionally, we must address the root cause of
overfishing: our insatiable demand for seafood.
By shifting our diets away from fish and towards
more sustainable protein sources, we can reduce the pressure on the oceans and
give them a chance to heal.
5.0
We Need A Worldwide Call to Action.
The time to act is now; there should be no
confusion about this.
By making the conscious decision to stop eating
fish today, we can send a clear message to the fishing industry and
policymakers that we value the health of our oceans and the lives of future
generations over the short-term profits that fishing companies make by stocking
our supermarket shelves with food we can easily live without.
Every individual can make a difference by making
sustainable choices and advocating for stronger environmental protections for
our oceans, seas, and lakes.
The oceans are more than just a food source; they
are our planet’s lifeblood, providing oxygen, regulating our climate, and
supporting a diverse range of species.
If we do not act quickly, we risk losing this
valuable resource forever. Let us band together and decide to stop eating fish
today, for the sake of our oceans and the planet’s future.
I, for one, do not want my grandson or great
grandson to be forced to live on the moon or Mars simply because this
generation refuses to accept the fact that we are living our lives in the wrong
way.
6.0
We Seem To Love Super Trawlers, The Bigger The Better?
The companies that own and operate the fishing
industry’s massive super trawlers pose the greatest threat to our survival
because they are unregulated by law, are motivated solely by profit, and
clearly do not care about the devastation they cause.
Unfortunately, it is we humans who are the
problem; we, the fish consumers, drive the need for these vessels of death to
exist; we demand that our supermarkets be stocked to the brim with vast amounts
of seafood, and we consume the seafood prepared and served by humans in
restaurants.
It’s as if humans are going to great lengths to
eradicate all marine life from the oceans, and they appear to be in a hurry to
do so.
We will not listen to reason or be told what to
do, and it appears that the world’s seafood-eating humans have effectively
declared war on the oceans and have a strong desire to destroy our planet.
7.0
We Can Save Our Oceans, One Person At A Time!
It’s a common misconception that our individual
actions hold little significance in the grand scheme of environmental
challenges.
However, the truth is that every decision we make,
including what we choose to consume, has a ripple effect that contributes to
the collective impact on our planet’s ecosystems.
When it comes to the health of our oceans, the
demand for seafood is a driving force behind the depletion of marine life and
the degradation of these vital ecosystems.
While it may seem insignificant, the simple act of
choosing not to consume seafood can have a profound impact when multiplied by multiple
millions, if not billions of individuals making the same conscious choice.
8.0
The Consequences Of Continuing To Consume Seafood.
The oceans are not an inexhaustible resource, and
the consequences of overfishing are far-reaching and often invisible to the
naked eye.
From the disruption of delicate food chains to the
destruction of fragile habitats, the ripple effects of our seafood consumption
extend far beyond the immediate impact on targeted species.
Furthermore, the methods used in commercial
fishing operations are now more harmful to marine ecosystems than we could have
predicted decades ago.
Destructive practices like bottom trawling, the
millions of tonnes of by-catch killed by Supertrawlers each year, and the use
of harmful fishing gear like long lines that are multiple kilometres long all
contribute to the degradation of these vital environments, exacerbating the
issue and bringing forth a rapid end to the health of our oceans, seas and
lakes.
9.0
A Positive Change In Our Thinking Is Required.
By every single consumer on this planet choosing
not to consume seafood, we can collectively reduce the demand that fuels these
harmful practices.
When all of use consumers make deliberate
decisions to support sustainable alternatives, the market responds, and
incentives for responsible and ethical behaviour increase.
Consider the impact if millions, if not billions,
of people around the world decided to stop eating seafood immediately.
The collective reduction in demand would send a
powerful message to the fishing industry: “It’s time to stop
operations.”
At the very least, it would force them to adopt
more environmentally friendly practices while allowing our oceans to heal and
replenish their vital resources.
It’s time to recognise the significance of our
individual decisions and the collective impact they can have on the health of
our oceans.
By making the conscious decision to stop eating
seafood, our current population can contribute to the solution rather than the
problem, ensuring a planet worth living on for future generations.
10.0
Don’t Wait For A Global Disaster To Happen.
The time to make a positive change is now, and it
starts with each of us making a commitment to protect and preserve the vast and
invaluable ecosystems that sustain life on our planet.
Join the movement, spread awareness, and inspire
others to make a difference, one plate at a time. Together, we can be the
catalyst for change and ensure that our oceans remain vibrant and thriving for
generations to come.
11.0
The Oceans, Seas & Lakes Of This World.
Marine life plays a crucial role in managing the
oceans and maintaining the balance of various biogeochemical cycles, including
the water cycle. Here’s just some information on how marine life contributes to
these processes:
1.
Reducing pollution and filtering pollutants: Certain marine organisms like oysters,
mussels, and sponges are filter feeders that remove particulate matter,
pollutants, and excess nutrients from the water column.
a.
Mangroves and seagrasses act as
natural filters, trapping sediments and pollutants from land-based sources
before they reach the open ocean.
2.
Preventing large-scale algal blooms: Zooplankton and other marine grazers feed on
algae, helping to control their population and prevent excessive growth that
can lead to harmful algal blooms.
a.
Coral reefs and other marine
ecosystems maintain a delicate balance of nutrients, preventing the
accumulation of excess nutrients that can fuel algal blooms.
3.
Maintaining the global water cycle: The oceans, seas and lakes play a vital role
in the water cycles across this vast world by providing the primary source of
evaporated water vapour that forms clouds and precipitation.
a.
Approximately 97.3% of the
Earth’s water is stored in the oceans, seas and lakes making them the largest
reservoir in the water cycle.
b.
Marine phytoplankton and other
photosynthetic organisms contribute to the water cycle by releasing water vapour
through transpiration, a process similar to evaporation in terrestrial plants.
c.
The ocean’s currents and
circulation patterns distribute heat and moisture around the globe, influencing
weather patterns and precipitation cycles.
d.
The loss of the oceans, seas, and
lakes would severely disrupt the global water cycle and biogeochemical cycles,
leading to catastrophic consequences for life on Earth.
e.
Without the oceans, seas and
lakes performing as they should, the primary source of atmospheric moisture
would be lost, potentially leading to a drastic reduction in precipitation and
the desiccation of terrestrial ecosystems (the end of the world).
Furthermore, the oceans, seas, and lakes play an
important role in regulating the Earth’s climate by absorbing and distributing
heat, and their loss would cause extreme temperature fluctuations and climate
instability.
Marine life is critical for the health of the
oceans and the delicate balance of biogeochemical cycles, including the water
cycle. The loss of the ocean’s ability to provide these essential functions
would have disastrous impacts on the planet’s climate, weather patterns, and
the survival of all life forms.
There’s no denying that the more environmental
damage we inflict on the planet’s oceans, seas, and lakes, the greater the
threat to human survival.
12.0
Why are Super Trawlers Such A Huge Problem?
Super trawlers are extremely large trawlers that
stay at sea for several weeks to catch commercial fish.
They are also known as ‘factory trawlers’ because
they are large enough to house facilities that allow the catch to be processed,
frozen, and stored.
The netts are so large that there is no way to
prevent sea mammals and fish from becoming trapped in them.
Bottom trawling causes enormous damage to seafloor
ecosystems, and even more so to the fragile and slow-growing deep sea
ecosystems.
They lay out long lines of hooks that can be up to
75 miles long, sweeping the sea clean of predators and other animals that come
across them.
Although only about 4% of all categorised fishing
vessels in the world are longer than 24 metres, super trawlers cause far more
harm than all smaller vessels combined, multiplied by 15.
For example, the ‘Annelies Ilena,’ Europe’s
largest fishing vessel, is a super trawler. It measures 144 metres long and
weighs 14,055 tonnes. This Super
trawling bringer of death can hold approximately 7,000 tonnes of fish and can fish
for weeks on end.
Because of its sheer size, the vessel was the
subject to a few conversations prior to its deployment; some people were actually
concerned about introducing such a large fishing vessel into the oceans. It’s not as though this stopped anything but
it’s the thought that counts.
Last I checked, the European Pelagic
Freezer-Trawler Association (PFA) was made up of 34 monstrous factory trawlers
and was one of the world’s largest, scariest, and most powerful
organisations. When we talk about trying
to stop Super Trawlers, we are referring to organisations like this.
I sometimes wonder why governments around the
world are so incapable of controlling the harm such organisations are causing.
I think I probably know the answer but it would
not be appropriate for me to put words to my suspicions for all to see.
13.0
Why Am I Worried About Supertrawlers?
In 1985, China had 13 super trawlers; now it has
17,000, making it nearly impossible for the oceans to survive.
Fish stocks are undeniably declining; everything
in the path of these super trawlers is destroyed by their nets.
The Margiris is a massive fishing vessel that is
142 metres long, weighs 9499 tonnes, can process over 250 tonnes of fish per
day, and has a cargo capacity of 6,200 tonnes of dead marine life.
The new all-steel Vladimir Limanov is a massive
vessel, measuring 108.2 metres in length, 21 metres in width, 8.35 metres in
depth, and displacing 13,500 tonnes. It
has a capacity of approximately 15,000 tonnes of fully processed dead marine
life products such as fillets, minced fish, and surimi.
14.0
Super Trawlers Do More Harm Then You Realise.
Super trawlers devastate sensitive marine
ecosystems, leaving behind a few miles of death and destruction.
Any marine animals or sea birds that cross the
path of these massive trawlers will be caught in nets, many of which are large
enough to encircle a 12-13 x A380 Aircraft, the largest planes in the world.
Super trawlers are not supposed to target small
forage and bait fish, but this restriction is impossible to enforce due to
their excessively large nets and the insanely large scale of their fishing
practices.
When super trawlers drag nets large enough to snag
a couple of ocean liners across the ocean floor, they capture and destroy
everything in their path, including the precious ocean floor, which is vital to
billions of marine life forms.
Super trawlers can drag their stupidly large nets
for man hours at a time and this makes it nearly impossible for any dolphins,
sharks, crabs, lobsters, or any other marine species in their path to escape.
Anything that gets entangled is going to die; they
will drown or be crushed by the hundreds of tonnes of fish surrounding them.
If there is still a glimmer of hope in this world,
Supertrawlers need to be outlawed and a global ocean management strategy must
be enforced by NATO or similar.
After all, if we don’t stop what is going on, we
will all perish.
15.0
Super Trawlers Are Equipped To Get Rid Of Dead Marine Life.
Super trawlers are outfitted with industrial-sized
vacuums to remove fish from the nets and transport them to a processing
facility located beneath the deck.
Once all of the desired seafood has been processed
and frozen, the trash fish and marine mammals are simply dumped overboard.
These massive nets not only indiscriminately trap
everything in their path, but they also severely damage the ocean floor, marine
ecosystems such as coral reefs, and significantly reduce fish stocks, putting
all marine life at risk.
Every time these vessels of death cast their nets,
these ships can catch up to 7,000 tonnes of fish, with an astounding 40% of
this so called catch dumped back into the sea as dead by-catch.
This is clearly illegal in terms of humanity’s
future, and it will bring an end to our oceans far sooner than anyone could
have predicted.
These unsustainable super trawler methods have
already caused significant harm to the world, and if we don’t stop them now,
they may have an irreversible negative impact on ocean life populations and the
ability of our oceans to exist in a healthy state.
Our forefathers could never have imagined the
techniques we use today to harvest seafood.
There is overwhelming evidence that super trawlers
are destroying more marine species than the planet’s natural systems can
replenish, yet we all do nothing; what is wrong with us?
16.0
Is There An Alternative To Destroying The Oceans?
For starters, a plant-based diet is unquestionably
better for you and the environment, or at least a diet that is largely
plant-based with small amounts of meat from non marine animals that consume
plants.
It’s nearly too late for some marine life, around 90%
of large predatory fish, such as sharks, tuna, marlin, and swordfish, are
already gone forever.
Chinese demand for shark fins has devastated
almost every species of shark in the sea.
The stupid fishing industry is now increasingly
focusing on smaller fish, which have traditionally fed larger fish, rather than
large fish, which were formerly targeted and slain.
Seven of the world’s top ten fisheries are
currently focused on little fish. If the fish are too small to eat to humans,
they are crushed into fish meal and fed to domestic animals and fish farm
raised salmon or tuna.
17.0
Maybe Humans Can Do Better In The Future?
Now that the majority of large fish species have
been eradicated, the fishing industry has shifted its focus to the exploitation
of small fish.
It’s not like they have a choice; human consumers
continue to demand seafood on their plates, so fishing companies have developed
new and devastating techniques for scooping up all of the small fish from the
oceans for human consumption.
Japanese and Norwegian fisheries are no longer
happy with hunting harmless baby whales for fun, they are now currently
removing hundreds of thousands of tonnes of plankton from the water for use as
high-protein feed, congrats to them but very sad for the future of the oceans I
suppose?
We humans are in denial, we will not be told what
to do (no matter the situation) and refuse to realise that by destroying marine
life.
We are happy to go along with planet endangering
practices and threaten our future generation’s ability to survive on this
planet and it is this stupidity that is driving the need for us to be a
multi-planet species.
The diversity and long-term health of our oceans,
seas, and lakes must be protected.
Sure, we humans have been able to recover from all
natural disasters that have occurred in the past, sometimes on a regular basis
in some areas, but there is one undeniable biological fact: if the oceans die,
we die, and we can stop thinking about escaping that disaster.
18.0
Conclusion: A Call for Immediate Action.
The war between super trawlers and our oceans is
not some distant conflict that we cannot do anything about; it’s a huge problem
raging on our doorstep, threatening the very foundation of life on Earth.
Throughout this article, I’ve tried my best to
explain the devastating impact of overfishing, particularly via the role of the
problematic super trawlers, on our marine ecosystems.
The consequences are real, they are far-reaching
and extremely alarming:
1.
85% of fish populations are
either extinct or on the verge of extinction.
2.
The global fishing industry has
grown to three times what the oceans can sustainably support.
3.
Even if we stopped fishing today,
it would take 23 years for the oceans to recover.
4.
Super trawlers, with their
massive nets and indiscriminate fishing methods, are causing unprecedented
damage to marine habitats and ecosystems.
5.
The destruction of ocean floors,
decimation of fish stocks, and endangerment of countless marine species are
pushing our oceans to the brink of ecological collapse.
The time for action is now. We cannot afford to be
passive observers in this war against our future. Each one of us has the power
to make a difference and it’s not that hard to put a stop to it all:
1.
Stop consuming seafood
immediately. This single act, when multiplied by millions, can significantly
reduce the demand that fuels the fishing industry.
2.
Educate yourself and others about
the importance of our oceans and the threats they face.
3.
Support organizations working to
protect marine ecosystems and advocate for stricter regulations on fishing
practices.
4.
Demand that your government takes
action to ban super trawlers and implement sustainable fishing practices.
5.
Choose plant-based alternatives
to seafood and support sustainable food systems.
Remember, the health of our oceans is
intrinsically linked to our own survival as the oceans regulate our climate,
provide oxygen, and support biodiversity.
If they die, we die. The choice is clear: we must
act now to save our oceans, or we risk losing everything.
Let this article be a rallying cry for change.
We have the power to turn the tide in this war
every single time you go food shopping or go out to a restaurant, choose
sustainability over destruction by stop eating seafood.
Prioritise the long-term health of our planet over
short-term profits.
The future of our oceans and indeed, our own
future depends on the choices we make today.
The war against our oceans via super trawlers needs
to end now, with each of us making a commitment to be part of the solution.
Our oceans have nurtured life for millions of
years; we humans have only been here for a spec of time I the history of our
planet and just look around at the harm we’ve done to it, especially with the
oceans.
It’s time we stopped harming the oceans and
started healing them.
The power to save our beautiful blue planet lies
in our hands, so let’s use it wisely, before it’s too late.
