Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
There are numerous ways in which restrictions are made on fisheries at the state, federal, and international
levels, including limits on the number of fish taken and pollution controls. Fishing regulations detail the
species, amount allowed for harvesting per day, closed seasons, and other information specific to each
type of fishery. Pollution regulations include the establishment of effluent limitation guidelines (ELGs),
created to reduce pollutants from aquaculture wastewater released into open waters.
Major federal laws governing fisheries include the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
(MPRSA, also known as the Ocean Dumping Act); the Oil Pollution Act (OPA); the Clean Water Act; and
the Endangered Species Act. International treaties include the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS); the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement; and the Agreement on Port State Meas-
ures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing.
With heightened conservation efforts and awareness, the use of more sustainable fishing methods and the
enactment of laws, treaties, and regulations have helped to reduce bycatch and to reestablish some of the
fishery populations that were previously in decline. However, there is still a long way to go in creating a
sustainable fishing industry.
Marine-protected areas (MPAs)
have been created to reduce fishing demands on marine organisms living
within their boundaries. Still, most MPAs allow for some fishing and harvesting of marine life. Restrictions
vary but can include bans on mining, extraction of resources, and the use of sonar. The size of the area in-
cluded in an MPA also varies, from small to very large. Currently there are about 400 MPAs worldwide, in
more than 65 countries. There is still a debate as to how useful MPAs are in protecting ecosystems and fisher-
ies, but an increasing body of evidence demonstrates some progress in local fishery populations and ecosystem
improvements due to MPAs.
A more restrictive type of MPA is a
marine reserve
, which does not allow human interference within the eco-
system and prohibits any activity that would remove or damage life in that area. This designation can help
decimated fishery populations and ecosystems recover and/or remain stable. However, many people oppose the
establishment of marine reserves, some citing the prevalence of locations in the oceans that are already off-lim-
its to fishing and recreation.
Marine reserves demonstrate an increase in the following:
• Density of populations of organisms
• Biodiversity
• Biomass
• Organism size
• Larval supply
In both MPAs and marine reserves, there can be various levels of protection within the area, with some parts
having to follow more stringent rules than others. There might also be seasonal restrictions. This multiple-use
approach has the potential to meet the needs of fisheries and ecosystems, as well as humans who use the areas
for economic and recreational purposes.
Global Economies
Globalization
