Assignment #4-Ocean Fisheries The relationship between the ecological goods and

ID: 1102933 • Letter: A

Question

Assignment #4-Ocean Fisheries The relationship between the ecological goods and services used by individuals and the amount of land area needed to provide those goods and services is relatively well developed. People also use goods and services from Earth's oceans, where the concept of area is less useful Complete the following table by calculating annual per capita consumption of fish for you, your class, Florida, and the world using the three consumption rates: North America, China, and World. Then answer the two questions, USE THESE POPULATION DATA for Florida and World. Florida population (2016) World population (2016) = 20,600,000 = 7.4 billion Annual consumption North America (21.6 kg per capita) China (27.7 kg per capita) 27.7kg World (16.2 kg per capita) 16.2 kg Consumer group You (n = 1) 21.6 kg Your Class (n=30) Florida (2016) (n 20,600,000) US 6.48 x 109 kg 8.31 x 109 kg 4.86 x 109 kg World (2016) (n - 7.4 billion) Question 1. What are some ecological concerns (potential problems) about the combined trends of human population growth and increasing per capita fish consumption?

Explanation / Answer

Consumer Group

North America (21.6 kg per capita)

China (27.7 kg per capita)

World (16.2 kg per capita)

You (n = 1)

21.6 kg

27.7 kg

16.2 kg

Your Class (n = 30)

648 kg

831 kg

486 kg

Florida (2016) (n = 20,600,000)

44.5x106 kg

57.1x106 kg

33.4 x106 kg

6.48x109 kg

8.31x109 kg

4.86x109 kg

World (2016) (n = 7.4 billion)

159.8x108 kg

204.9x108 kg

119.8x108 kg

Over fishing has adverse effect on the overall population parameters of fishes. These parameters include age and size structure, sex ratio, genetics and species composition. Moreover, over fishing transforms stable ecosystems into unstable and stressed ecosystem.

Excessive fishing affects the overall balance in the ecosystem. For instance if over fishing results in the extinction of high-value predatory species then the population of their prey will increase substantially thereby disturbing the balance.

Another associated harmful effect of overfishing is the destruction of habitats like seagrass and coral reefs that harbor several types of marine animals.