Donaven Baughman
Research Techniques and Technologies
Leslie Drake
Research Proposal (Proposal, Outline, Timeline)
2/7/17
Does Overfishing for Commercial Fish Destroy Ocean Ecosystems?
Overfishing is the process of removing fish from the seas faster than they are able to
reproduce enough offspring to create a stable population. Overfishing began in the late 1800s
and has continued through today. Overfishing in the 21st century is primarily based off of the
demand for seafood with up to 90 percent of fisheries in the world being over exploited for fish
markets and restaurants. Some of the most removed fish from seas include Blue Fin Tuna,
Atlantic Halibut, and up to 50 more species to be sold. With the removal of these species from
the oceans at rates faster than they can reproduce, ocean ecosystems are deteriorating and dying
due to missing pieces of their food chain and environment. When one species is removed from an
environment, it has implications on other fish and animals within and around the ecosystem.
When prey fish such as Herring are removed too quickly from the oceans, predator fish such as
Cod fall off due to lack of food and nutrients, which in turn hurts that piece of the ocean
ecosystem. Overfishing destroys small ocean ecosystems and in turn could destroy the
biodiversity of the worlds oceans completely. When fishermen net oceans for these large scale
commercial fish, up to three times as many fish that are used for product are caught and removed
from oceans without any reason. With these fish being removed three times as fast as market
fish, even more pieces are removed from the oceans food chain and biodiversity, furthering the
deterioration of the oceans even more. If fish are continued to be removed faster than they can
reproduce, it will deteriorate and eliminate all of the worlds fisheries by the year 2048. Not only
will this destroy the oceans biodiversity and well-being, but communities that rely on fish for
economic stability will also crumble without the main factor that holds them together. This
research project will point out the current implications and consequences caused by overfishing
and implications that will be present in the future if restorative or conservative measures are not
taken in effort to save the worlds fisheries.
Outline
Does Overfishing for Commercial Fish Destroy Ocean Ecosystems?
I. Introduction
A. Description of overfishing
B. History of this issue
C. Intro to effects of overfishing
D. Thesis
II. First Main Point: Elimination of target-fish species due to overfishing
A. Species targeted and effected
B. Effect of removal of target-species on ocean ecosystems (depletion of fisheries)
C. Reasons as to why these fish are targeted at such high rates
D. Future consequences of removal of these species
III. Second Main Point: Methods of catching target species
A. Trawling and Gillnetting
B. Dredging
C. Non-target species effected by these methods
IV. Third Main Point: Bycatch and other environmental issues caused by fishing
methods
A. Explanation of bycatch
B. Species heavily effected
C. Other parts of ocean ecosystem effected (Ocean floor, lost nets, coral, etc)
V. Fourth Main Point: Consequences of overfishing and avoiding it
A. Completely removing these species from the ocean
B. Coastal economies that rely on fish for sustainability
C. Deterioration of numbers of other species through bycatch and destruction of
biodiversity/food chains
D. Fish-farming (avoiding overfishing in oceans)
E. Other methods of sustainable commercial fishing
VI. Conclusion
Timeline
Date Objective
February 8 Proposal/Outline
February 10 3 sources for Main Point 1
February 13 3 sources for Main Point 2
February 16 3 sources for Main Point 3
February 19 3 sources for Main Point 4
February 22 Finish introductory paragraph
February 25 Finish Main Point 1
February 28 Finish Main Point 2
March 1 Finish Main Point 3
March 4 Finish Main Point 4
March 7 Finish Conclusion
March 8 Turn in rough draft
March 9 Peer Review
March 13-March 16 Write Final Draft
March 17 Turn in Final Paper
