Fishing activities are without doubt one of the most revered around the world. Either for recreation, feeding, or commercial purposes, and lots of people carries out fishing at high rates.

However, this hobby of many and the commercial exploration of the ocean for instance have a devastating and lasting effect on the marine habitat. This is because, continuous and uncontrolled fishing unsettles the inhabitants of the underwater world and exterminates many.

For example, surf fishing is one of the most common fishing techniques that have largely gone unchecked. However, this fishing technique despite looking simple and harmless affects the marine habitat due to its deep fishing nature.

These effects are not only bad for the preservation of the marine habitat; it’s also devastating to the creation of sustainable food and livelihood for humans and the balancing of the ecosystem.

Hence, we must raise our voice and petition the world powers over the exploitation of the ocean and disruption of the ecosystem through excessive fishing activities. To get a clearer view of the effects of some of the fishing techniques such as surf fishing on the marine habitat, we will discuss some of the problems caused by these activities.

Increasing Threat of Extermination of Some Fish Species

The continuous target of some fishing species has led to the threat of them going into extinction. This is because the mature individuals of this species are continuously removed at high rates leading to a lower rate of reproduction.

For example, most fishermen making use of surf fishing combo have specific targets of fish which are usually the types of fishes consumed in their areas. This leads to a sharp reduction in the population of such fish species.

Reduction of fish species is prominent in slow reproducing fishes like the cartilaginous fishes (e.g. dogfish). This reduction in population causes an imbalance in the ecosystem and also the life-history of such species. It also causes genetic changes in these species.

Research has shown the majority of fish species under threat of extermination have experienced gradual changes in genetic composition such as the maturity age. This is in response and adaptation to continuous human activities.

Bycatch and Discard

This problem is not only limited to fishing techniques like surf fishing, it is peculiar to all fishing tools and techniques. Bycatches are fish species that are not the targeted species but are caught by mistake. These species are either sold or discarded.

Discard on the other hand encompasses bycatch but can still be fishes of the targeted species but not the expected size. They are usually dumped on the ocean banks or back in the ocean to be fed on by predators.

This problem is highly prominent and is increasingly affecting the marine habitat and the livelihood of those in the coastal areas. According to Wikipedia, “for every one pound of target species caught, up to 5 pounds of unintended marine species are caught and discarded as bycatch.” This means that about 40% of fishes caught worldwide are discarded as bycatch.With the few problems raised, we urge the public to join us in petitioning the world powers to help regulate and control the fishing activities in our oceans. Also, they should ensure all catches count to help reduce the problems of bycatch.