Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Assignment Example It is only by changing the mentality of human particularly the fishermen that the aquatic life will be protected from possible extinction. It is wrongful for a few individuals to engage in practices that benefit only a few but has dire consequences suffered by all. A good example is overfishing, which destroys aquatic life affecting even those who do not practice it. 2. How were your views and opinions challenged or changed by your reading of In Pursuit of Giants, if at all?   Before reading this book, I considered humans dynamic in that they can change their behaviors depending on the situation. However, reading this book made me realize it is not always the case. This is because people continue fishing using inappropriate methods irrespective of the fact that the species they are capturing are at the verge of extinction. The fisheries management, which is supposed to facilitate conservation of aquatic life, involve themselves in corrupt deals, which end up worsening the crisis. I t is pathetic to realize that the same governments that obtain a lot of revenue from export of fish are doing little to protect the life of the endangered fish species. 3. Name three industrial fishing practices mentioned in the book, and explain how they create bycatch and harm marine life.   Fishing can be done in large scale or small scale. Fishing is a practice that leads to killing of the highest number of animals. Large scale, commercial or industrial fishing entails capturing of large quantities of fish. In most large-scale fishing, destructive fishing methodologies are used, which leads to inadvertent capture of immature fishes as well as other aquatic organisms commonly referred to as bycatch. Some of the methods that lead to bycatch and have been mentioned in Rigney’s book include trawling, seining, and long lining. The above-mentioned methods are a true cruelty towards aquatic animals. Trawling entails using nets that are hooked to two t Using trawling as a fishi ng method results of both target and non-target species. Trawling, particularly bottom trawling leads to capture of large quantities of bycatch, which include all organisms that happen to be along the path of the trawl nets. Most of the bycatch die as the nets are dragged along the ocean floor while other dies when the nets are hauled from the ocean due to changes in pressure. This is commonly referred to as decompression. Additionally, the method leads to destruction of the ocean beds. Mid-water trawling is another commercial fishing method commonly used in different parts of the world and entails immersing nets net in areas with high water volume. The nets are then hooked to trawl door or towed behind two boats. Just like bottom trawling, Mid-water trawling leads to capture of high numbers of non-target species. Seining is another fishing methodology that leads to large numbers of bycatch. Purse seining is used to capture fish species such as tuna. Seining involves use of nets com monly known as purse seine. However, the method leads to large bycatch particularly of dolphins that are frequently found near tuna. Long lining involves sinking long fishing lines, Bout 50 miles in length, threaded with baited hooks. The line with the hooks is then hauled behind a boat or left afloat overnight. This method is mainly used