Trends in Use of Biotic Resources (SL IB Geography)

Biotic resources

• Biotic resources are living resources
• In oceans biotic resources include small phytoplankton, fishes, crustaceans, mammals and any other living creature beneath the ocean’s depths

Uses of biotic resources

• Fish and shellfish are the main constituents of diets across the world:
  • Food thickeners contain sea algae
  • Shampoos, creams and other cosmetics contain seaweed
• Phytoplankton is vital for oxygen production in the air that we breathe
• Medicines for all sorts of diseases contain chemicals from plants and animals in the ocean 

• The use of biotic resources is increasing
• Increasing demand for biotic resources and the improvement of fishing technologies put pressure on the ocean environment 
• With unsustainable fishing practices, global fishing stocks are depleting

Overfishing

• Overfishing involves catching so many species that the repopulation rate can’t keep up. This causes fish populations to deplete 
• Valuable fishes like cod are in decline, whilst others are endangered or even extinct 
• Drift nets are huge nets that move along the ocean, attached to floats on the ocean surface 
• Seine nets operate from the coastline or boats. Large nets hang downwards, weighted at the bottom and connected to floats at the top 
• Traps and pots line the seabed, ideal for catching crustaceans  
• Long-line fishing involves a long line of wire (50–100km) with hooks attached. They can catch plenty of fish near the ocean surface
• Bycatch
  • Fishing nets are huge, typically used for commercial fishing in large quantities
  • A net used to catch small creatures, like shrimps, catches all sorts of other marine life, like turtles, dolphins or other fishes
  • Fishermen throw these “spare” dead animals back into the oceans
  • In some cases, bycatch can be larger than the overall net catch
• Fish aggregating devices (FADs)
  • FADs offer shelter for fish from other predators 
  • They are used to attract fish to an area, where nets then catch the fish
  • They can be technologised beacons or just pieces of wood

Habitat destruction and pollution

• Bottom trawling involves dragging nets along the ocean floor
• This can damage the seafloor and other marine areas, including reefs
• Dragging heavy nets along the bottom of the ocean will pull up plant roots and disturb sediment
• Dynamite baits and poison are also destructive fishing techniques 
• Fishing industries leave behind ghost gear, like nets, ropes and traps. This contributes to large percentages of plastic pollution
• This discarded material can still trap marine life and damage ecosystems

Overfishing of our oceans 

Overfishing of our oceans 

Aquaculture

• Aquaculture is a useful alternative to overfishing
• Aquaculture is the farming of fish, crustaceans and marine plants in a controlled environment
• It is a viable modern innovation for aquatic seafood production
• It is a solution to counter the effects of mass overfishing and to increase yields to feed the population and reduce food insecurity
• Aquaculture is now one of the leading industries in food production 
• However, there are concerns about pollution, deforestation, mangrove clearing and disease spread
• Some examples of aquaculture include: 
  • Pond systems – artificial enclosed ponds to rear marine life like shellfish 
  • Open net pens – man-made mesh enclosures floating on water bodies to rear fish 
  • Submersible net pens – underwater cages to rear fish
  • Recirculating systems – indoor pond tanks with a water circulating system. The system moves waste water out, purifies it and reintroduces it back into the pond

The growth of aquaculture

The growth of aquaculture

Sustainable fishing and conservation

• Sustainable fishing alternatives are vital for combatting overfishing, whilst also ensuring there is enough aquatic life in the future
• Getting involved on an individual level:
  • We can make better dietary choices like reducing seafood, choosing sustainably sourced seafood and minimising food waste
  • We can educate ourselves and others about the fishing industry and sustainability 
• Timed fishing
  • Traditional fishing techniques by Indigenous People involve fishing at certain times of the year, historically managed by the tides and moon
  • Fishing at specific times of the year allows fish stock replenishment
  • In some areas, fishing is banned 
• Sustainable technologies
  • Traditional techniques can ensure direct catch with no risk of bycatch 
  • Reel and rod fishing has developed from traditional hook-and-line. It minimises the amount of fish caught in one go and bycatch returns to the ocean quickly
  • Modern spearfishing guns mirror traditional spearfishing techniques, catching one fish at a time
  • Floating fish traps are nets held in place by anchors. Fish are “caught” without getting dangerously entangled. Any bycatch can be easily released 
• Monitoring overfishing 
  • Cameras attached to boats track fishing levels
  • Remote Electronic Monitoring helps to collect data about marine activity  
• Managing fisheries 
  • People at all levels work to manage fisheries
  • Many stakeholders value oceans differently, like fishermen, conservationists, and consumers
  • International agreements provide fishing laws to protect the oceans and reduce illegal fishing
• Conservation areas 
  • Marine protected areas have particular restrictions on fishing activity, such as gear restrictions, fish species restrictions, and access restrictions
  • No-take zones are no-use areas, not just for fishing, but also for mining and other activities 
  • Entering an area is forbidden during some parts of the year, like mating season
  • It can increase productivity in the area, develop more mature species (which lay more eggs) and increase species density
  • It protects the coral reef environment in the area

Quotas

• Quotas are regulations set by governments concerning how much fishing can take place
• Governments or unions must meet the quota standards:
  • In the EU, Total Allowable Catch (TAC) provides a yearly fishing limit 
  • This creates a fair balance for fishing industries, reducing competition and oversupply
• Quotas use scientific information and advice to create and enforce fishing regulations 
• Some disputes may arise from transferring quotas between nations and individual people
• Quotas are a good sustainable method to combat overfishing