Mitigation Strategies (HL IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Mitigation Strategies

• Unsustainable exploitation of aquatic systems can be mitigated at a variety of levels (international, national, local and individual)

  • This can be achieved through policy, legislation and changes in consumer behaviour

    • For example, control of net size and the introduction of fishing quotas play important roles in the conservation of fish stocks

    • Strategies like these can keep fish stocks at a sustainable level

International and National Level Actions

• Increasing the size of gaps in fishing nets can help in two main ways:

  • Fewer unwanted species (that are often discarded) will be caught and killed

    • This is because they can escape through larger net gaps (as long as they are smaller than the species being caught)

    • The accidental capture and killing of larger, unwanted species is still a problem

  • Juvenile fish of the fish species being caught can escape through larger net gaps

    • This means they can reach breeding age and have offspring before they are caught and killed

    • This ensures the population of the fish species being caught can be replenished

• Fishing quotas limit the number and size of particular fish species that can be caught in a given area

  • Many nations have introduced quotas to prevent overfishing of certain species

• There are several ways to enforce governmental regulations:

  • Establishing fishing quotas

  • Agreeing zones or areas of the ocean where fishing is banned (e.g. spawning grounds) and permitted (e.g. within a country's territorial waters)

  • Agreeing specific times of the year when fishing is not allowed to let fish populations recover (e.g. spawning season)

  • Regulating mesh size of nets (to allow undersized/juvenile fish to escape)

  • Limiting the size of the fishing fleet by issuing licences and permits

  • Inspecting the catch as a fishing boat returns to port

  • Banning certain practices, e.g. gillnets (static nets that catch anything that swims past),

  • Promoting sustainable practices such as trolling (different to trawling) that reduce bycatch

  

Local and Individual Level Actions

• Sustainable seafood choices:

  • Encouraging consumers to buy seafood that is certified as sustainable

    • For example, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label indicates sustainably sourced seafood

• Food labelling:

  • Providing clear information on the origin and sustainability of seafood products to help consumers make informed choices

    • For example, the UK’s “Blue Fish” label signifies fish caught using sustainable practices

• Community initiatives:

  • Educating the public about the importance of sustainable fishing and responsible seafood consumption

  • Supporting local fishing communities that practice sustainable fishing

  • Participating in local conservation efforts

  • Involving local communities in managing and protecting their own fisheries

    • For example, in the Philippines, community-based coastal resource management has successfully increased fish stocks and biodiversity

Marine Protected Areas

• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designated regions of seas and oceans where human activities are restricted or managed

  • This is to protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity

• MPAs play a crucial role in supporting aquatic food chains and maintaining sustainable yields

  • They do this by providing safe areas for marine life

Benefits of marine protected areas

Biodiversity conservation

• Habitat protection:

  • MPAs protect critical habitats like coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves

    • For example, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park protects one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet

• Species protection:

  • MPAs protect endangered and vulnerable species by reducing human-induced pressures such as fishing and pollution

    • For example, the Galápagos Marine Reserve protects unique species found nowhere else in the world

    • It does this by imposing fishing restrictions and carefully managing tourism

Support for aquatic food chains

• Spawning and nursery grounds:

  • MPAs provide safe areas for fish and other marine organisms to reproduce and for juveniles to grow

• Feeding grounds:

  • By protecting areas rich in food sources, MPAs ensure that marine species have access to enough food

Spillover effect

• Population growth beyond MPA boundaries:

  • Healthy and abundant populations within MPAs can migrate to nearby areas

  • This replenishes fish stocks and benefits fisheries outside the protected zones

• Genetic diversity:

  • MPAs maintain genetic diversity by protecting breeding populations

  • This contributes to the resilience of marine species

    • For example, the Chagos Marine Reserve in the Indian Ocean supports genetically diverse populations of fish and coral

Sustainable yields

• Fisheries management:

  • MPAs can help maintain sustainable fishery yields by preventing overfishing and allowing fish populations to recover

  • Sustainable fish populations lead to more stable and long-term economic benefits for fishing communities