Discuss how fishing practices can damage ecosystems. Include problems associated with driftnets, longline fishing, and bottom-trawling
What will be an ideal response?
The removal of species at high trophic levels from marine environments, particularly those that act as keystone species, can have serious ramifications for marine ecosystems. Fishing practices can also harm ecosystems in other ways. Many practices catch more than just the species they target. Such bycatch accounts for the deaths of many thousands of fish, sharks, marine mammals, and birds each year. Boats that drag driftnets through the water capture substantial numbers of large animals such as dolphins, seals, and sea turtles, as well as countless nontarget fish. Most of these end up dying from drowning or from air exposure on deck. Similar bycatch problems exist with longline fishing. Besides catching nontarget turtles and sharks, longline fishing kills many albatrosses. Other fishing practices can directly damage entire ecosystems. Bottom-trawling crushes many organisms in its path and leaves long swaths of sea bottom damaged, especially those areas with structural complexity, such as reefs, that animals use for shelter.
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