Spreading the word about Overfishing
The first step to combat overfishing is simply the practice of advertisement, which is the main goal of this website. It is so important to spread awareness across the globe about overfishing and how it continues to harm the environment and ecosystem around us. The truth is, much of society does not even know that overfishing exists. This is the first problem. Everybody needs to become aware of the issue, and simply their awareness could lead to them helping toward the effort to combat the problem. The next step is informing those who already are aware of overfishing of the dangers that it causes, and relate it back to them. For example, the people of the Mediterranean who consume large amounts of fish may need to be told that if overfishing does not stop, their fish may no longer be available one day, and if it is, it could be very expensive if it becomes scarce. In addition to informing society about the problem, direct action needs to be taken. Those nineteen countries need to be passing laws limiting how much fish can be fished out of the Mediterranean Sea. If more people like us, especially the citizens of those countries, petition for this to happen, it may eventually happen.
The most challenging step that needs to be taken is convincing the public that overfishing WILL occur and IS occurring within their lifetime. The vast majority believe that the overfishing, or the effects of overfishing, will not have an impact on their generation or even the next generation. In order to prove that this is far from the truth, it is important to reach out on an ethical standpoint. We need to ask ourselves how it would feel if our children and grandchildren are not able to consume the proper nutrients that come from seafood. How would you feel if you knew that your loved ones were going to have to live with a drastically different, and unhealthier, diet all due to overfishing? Ethically speaking, nearly everybody we reach out to will admit that the health of their children and grandchildren is important to them.
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If their family's health is not enough to convince them of the negative effects of overfishing, then we should incorporate the recreational effects that it will have on their families. For example, how would you feel if you knew that all the beautiful and memorable experiences such as snorkeling, scuba-diving, exploring, or vacationing will no longer be available? Who wants to take a vacation to the Mediterranean when the ecosystem and sea itself have completely collapsed? Below is an example of how the sea used to look, and how it has transformed as a result of overfishing.
Although the well-being of family is probably the most important topic to spread the awareness of overfishing, reaching out to all of you environmentalists, animal-lovers, and fishermen is our next goal! Based on your hobbies or interests, it is obvious that you care about the lives of the animals that call the Mediterranean Sea home. So let's put this in an ethical standpoint again, however this time in the perspective of the animals of the sea. Larger, more powerful species (humans) are coming in and KILLING off these animals, it is as simple as that. If ALL of the animals have to lose their lives just to support us humans, then we are obviously doing something very wrong, and I think anyone can agree with that. For all of the fishermen out there, fishing is either your hobby or career, and if you do not start controlling the amount of fish that you are taking out of the sea, then your favorite hobby or career will unfortunately no longer be available to you. As shown to the right, it is clear that this non-availability of fish is the harsh reality. |