Target: Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, NOAA Fisheries
Goal: Decrease the volume of fish that can be harvested by industrial fishers.
Fish has been a dietary staple across the world for ages, and there does not seem to be a decline in consumption. Now more than ever, though, experts are noticing a decline in fish populations in locations where they traditionally have been plentiful for generations. Many may suggest the growing population of people is to blame for fishing nets coming up increasingly empty. However, the growth of industrial fishers taking over the waters is primarily responsible for increased prices and decreasing availability. This is a problem for two reasons.
First, industrial fishing boats’ large scale are designed to harvest anything and everything. These massive industrial operations dredge the waters with huge nets taking whatever they can pull up. They wipe out life on a large scale, not being conscious of their technique and removing hundreds, even thousands, of aquatic lifeforms. This effectively disrupts the oceans’ food chain by wiping out food sources for many creatures to thrive, survive, and reproduce to repopulate the waters. Additionally, the massive nets dragged on the ocean’s bottom destroy ecosystems aquatic animals need to sustain their populations.
Second, the monopoly created by industrial fishing boats leaves little behind for smaller, local, independent operations. These micro level fishers generally have a specific type of animal their boats are equipped for collecting: lobster, shrimp, large or small fish, etc. They create a balance so that no single fisher takes all of one catch. Enter the massive ships who take everything, and little to nothing is left for everyone else, including a way to provide for their families. National Geographic studied the competition using satellite images and found industrial fishing occupies a third of the planet. For the smaller boats, it is like using one fishing pole to compete with a thousand.
Sign the petition to urge Mr. Rauch of the NOAA Fisheries to place a stricter limit on the quantity and type of animals industrial fishers can take from the water.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Deputy Assistant Rauch,
Our oceans’ aquatic life are in trouble. Huge industrial fishers have dominated the world’s oceans, a third or more according to National Geographic. These large scale operations care only about quantity and have no concern for the way their work disrupts and wipes out fragile aquatic ecosystems. There is no reason fish should be a dying resource. The seas are still capable of producing plenty for the world’s booming population, but that relies on our respect and boundaries when fishing. If we remove these animals’ food and even homes by dragging massive nets through the water, it is only a matter of time before there is nothing left.
To make matters worse, they are reducing the world’s fish supply not only for consumers but also smaller, local, fishers who rely on the sea’s bounty to feed their families and make a living. Smaller fishers target specific types of fish based on how their boats are equipped. This maintains a balance in what is extracted from the oceans and curbs too much from being harvested. When large fishers come through, it blocks channels for small boats, extracts everything from the water, and ultimately leaves a wasteland of resources for anyone else.
Action is necessary now to protect wildlife populations in our oceans’ and not lead fish and independent fishers to extinction. We urge you to create stronger regulations for the quantity and scope of industrial fishers.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Lamiot
Greedy bastards – why can’t the authorities stop them?
We will destroy ourselves if we destroy the oceans
The world leaders,should all be held responsible for allowing these goliath pieces of machinery that just eat up everything,so greedy corporate companies can become filthy rich…!! The logic behind these monsters of the seas,is to drain absolutely everything,so our governments/leaders that have taken a back hander to literally ignore this serious issue,instead of leading the way in preventing them from being used..! We’re on a loosing track,these companies have no conscience or concern,they will suffer just as much as the rest of us in the end.
Serves you all right to have nothing left in the ocean. Your greed has no end!
There should be laws in place to limit all fishing! ..so law makers do your job! Get laws in place that are enforced and charge and fine all who break them!
MAN’S GREED HAS NO END UNTIL THERE IS NOTHING LEFT!
And do you think the US is going to put a coast guard to watch the seas? It’s rather difficult and a dream. In addition, it must be taken into account that the other underdeveloped countries, unfortunately, do not care because that is what they live on.
TRUE….. other countries who live mostly by seafood are destroying the oceans…….
They mudt be stopped by force if necessary
Worst day on this planet was the day man evolved. All our species does is destroy.
The only chance this planet has will be when we are gone. And we are certainly doing a bang-up job of making sure that will happen. Between shooting each other and wiping out other species, we don’t deserve this beautiful place.
The sooner humans are gone the better, we are a plague on the planet.
All this destruction of sea life to feed the overfed,sickening.
THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE GREED A MAN HAS TO GET RICH, NOTHING WILL STOP HIM UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN IF HE IS AWARE OF THE SERIOUS DAMAGE HE WILL CAUSE. I ALSO WONDER IF ALL THOSE MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES WILL HAVE A LONG ENOUGH LIFE TO ENJOY ALL THAT MONEY OR WILL IT JUST PASS INTO THE HANDS OF ITS HEIRS TO ENJOY AND WASTE AS THEY WANT?
What a stupid life! dreaming to be rich and then living a miserable existence so as to try to be known as one of the famous richest men.
Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, NOAA Fisheries
Decrease the volume of fish that can be harvested by industrial fishers.
Always the vile and evil money hungry human monsters who cause all these atrocities committed against the precious and innocent sea animals.
These money hungry human monsters must be eradicated from our Planet asap. Greedy lowlife human monster bastards on our Planet.
Commercial fishermen = ocean rapers!
catastrophic consequences