How does eating fish impact others? (Secondary) - Lesson Two

• Social Studies
• History
• +3
• 9th,10th Grade

Introduction

Lesson Two – How are ecosystems impacted? This lesson covers how overfishing, due to high demand, can impact an ecosystem. Learning activities:  Research and discussion on the impacts of overfishing in the Canadian herring fisheries.

Instructions

Time: 45 minutes

Contact: [e-mail]
© Sea Shepherd 2022

Lesson 2 - How are ecosystems impacted?

This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd.  Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife.  Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year. 

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How does consuming fish impact ecosystems?

This lesson we are focusing on the consequences of consuming fish. We are going to look at how we impact ecosystems by eating fish.
Ask students: “How do you think consuming fish impacts ecosystems?”

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

OVERFISHING

90% of predatory fish species are gone.

Average of 30% of global catch is illegal.

Less than 10% of fisheries are deemed to be 'healthy'.

The rate of overfishing is a huge issue:
    Over 100 million tonnes of fish a year are taken from the ocean.
    90% of predatory fish species numbers have disappeared.
    Less than 10% of fisheries are deemed to be underfished ie healthy populations.
    An average of 30% of the global fishing catch is illegally caught.
We know that it is our demand for fish that is driving these numbers, as a result of a rapidly growing population and a preference for fish.

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

HOW DOES OVERFISHING IMPACT:

Individual marine species

Food chains

Ecosystems

Ask students how they think this impacts:
    Individual marine species
    Marine food chains
    Ecosystems

Over 100 million tons of fish caught each year.

Case study - Canadian herring fisheries.

Let’s take a look at an example around the Canadian herring fisheries.

We will use a Sea Shepherd’s campaign Operation Backbone, highlighting the issue of declining herring numbers.  The aim of the campaign was to protect the last herring in the Salish Sea, on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada.
Department of Fisheries data in 2019 showed a 60% decline in herring numbers from 2016.
In 2019 herring populations were predicted to be approximately 122,291 tonnes, but only 85,700 tonnes actually returned. Despite declining numbers, a commercial herring fishery was allowed to continue. The fishery not only targets herring, but also herring roe.
Herring are part of the local food chain, that also include Chinook Salmon and Southern Resident Killer Whales.

We are going to take a look at a couple of short videos produced by Sea Shepherd as part of Operation Backbone.  
This video (5.58min) shows the history of the herring fisheries and the local food web it impacts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc4_2obn_6o

This video (3.18min) explains Sea Shepherd’s concerns for the herring:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nztNeDLyhDI

www.seashepherdglobal.org

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Refer Teachers Guide for Learning Activities.