Precis: Fishing for Answers - Essay Example

Precis: Fishing for AnswersPrecisIncreasing the volume of fishing activities is often considered by governments as an effective solution for addressing intensive economic problems of the state and for covering the food needs of local population. However, this strategy can have a series of severe implications, as explained in the article under examination. In fact, the level of existing fishing stocks internationally shows trends for continuous decrease, a phenomenon related to various factors, such as overfishing, extensive discards (i.e. marine animals that are caught along with fish and are returned to sea, often already dead) and habitat degradation (Kura et al. 2/ VIII). Moreover, the expansion of fishing through industrial fleets has led small-scale fishing to decline.

However, as noted in the article of Kura et al., small-scale fishing is the most popular fishing practice, being used in most countries for covering the food needs of locals. As a result, the potential of people to secure their access to fish for covering their food needs is threatened. AT the same time, the marine ecosystems are also in risk; excessive pollution, wrong aquaculture methods and overfishing are expected to lead to the extinction of many marine species in the near future. All these themes are analyzed in the article of Kura et al. (2004) for increasing the awareness of people in regard to the specific subject.

Apart from the presentation of the problems involved the article of Kura et al. (2004) suggests an effective solution, along with its implications: sustainable fishing is believed to be the most effective strategy for stopping the damages on marine ecosystems and for protecting marine species, as terms for securing fishing stocks in the future. However, the application of practices of sustainable fishing can be a challenging task. For this reason, the article suggests a series of strategies that could help towards the promotion of sustainable fishing; for example, reference is made to the creation of marine areas that could be used solely as places for protecting marine stocks and to the improvement of existing terms for licensing and monitoring of fishing, as a trade activity (Kura et al. 6/ XII). In any case, the protection of marine ecosystems should be secured by using the ecosystem approach, which highlights the importance ‘not only of the ecosystem/ fishery source but also of community needs’ (Kura et al. 6/ XII) as factors influencing the terms of fishing.

Significance of the ArticleThe continuous limitation of fishing stocks worldwide is a problem that remains unknown to most people. The article offers valuable explanations in regard to the causes of this phenomenon, which is not particularly analyzed in the literature. At the same time, the article suggests potential solutions for the problem’s limitation: reference is made in particular to sustainable finishing. Moreover, the article provides critical information for the performance of regulation related to fishing and for Aquaculture, a framework that aims to secure sustainability in fishing.

Most important, through this article the readers are able to be informed on the activities that lead to the damage of ecosystems and to learn ways for contributing in the limitation of the problem; participating in activities for initiating the involvement of governments in the resolution of the problem would be vital for the global fisheries crisis to be controlled. Indeed, the article indicates that global crisis in regard to fisheries could be effectively managed only if actions would taken not only at political but also at social level.

According to the above, the article has a significant value as of its following aspects: a) uniqueness of the theme discussed, b) extension and quality of analysis, c) the high volume and the variety of the information provided and d) the solutions suggested.Works CitedKura, Yumiko, Revenga, Carmen, Hoshino, Eriko and Greg Mock. Fishing for Answers. World Resources Institute: Washington, 2004.