By Kaylanie Danga, Hawa diop, Aishatou Diouf, Rahma Diallo, Esther
Curry, and Chimere Gueye
INTRODUCTION
DEFINITIONS
AGENDA CAUSES OF OVERFISHING
IMPACTS ON MARINE BIODIVERSITY
CASE STUDIES
SOLUTIONS
CONCLUSION
THE EARTH IS FACING MANY SERIOUS
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES. CLIMATE CHANGE,
POLLUTION, DEFORESTATION, AND BIODIVERSITY
LOSS ARE THREATENING LIFE ON OUR PLANET. THESE
PROBLEMS AFFECT THE AIR WE BREATHE, THE WATER
WE DRINK, AND THE FUTURE OF HUMANS, ANIMALS,
AND NATURE. IN THIS PRESENTATION, WE WILL
EXPLORE 2 MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
Biodiversity loss: Biodiversity is all living things from tiny
bacteria to giant whales, biodiversity is key to maintaining life
and function on Earth. Biodiversity is threatened by human
activity and will fail unless we take action.
Overfishing: Overfishing is the practice of fishing fish without
giving them time to recover and reproduce.
Ocean depletion: Ocean depletion is the overall consequence
of overfishing marine biodiversity loss. The ocean is essential
for our source of food and is home to 94% of species, all of
which will go extinct if we keep contributing to this. It is caused
by ocean warming and acidification.
Illegal fishing: This takes place when ships or fisherman break rules
about how much you can fish, what you can fish, where you can fish…
Every year it’s estimated to cause losses of $23 billion wordside.
Poor enforcement: Illegal fishing wouldn’t be nearly as bad if
countries made proper efforts to enforce it and make laws clear.
High seafood demands: Seafood makes up a lot of the average
person’s diet and fishing is an important job, especially for people in
developing countries.
Bycatch: Bycatch is when other animals get accidentally hurt while
fishing completely different species. 300 000 species die from this
annually and those are important and becoming endangered species
such as: dolphins, sharks, whales, turtles…
Reduced Number of Species: Overfishing directly causes the populations of many fish species
to
decline. Species loss means that some marine animals and plants can disappear completely
from the ocean.
Changes in the Food Web: Every creature in the ocean is connected. If you remove a species
(like a type of fish), it can affect the animals that eat it (they might starve). This disrupts the
delicate balance of the ocean's food web.
Damage to Habitats: Overfishing can damage habitats. For example, bottom trawling
destroys
coral reefs and seagrass beds, which are home to many species. Pollution and climate change
(which contribute to biodiversity loss) also damage these vital habitats.
Loss of Unique Species: The ocean is home to many unique creatures found nowhere else on
Earth. Species loss means we could lose these amazing animals forever.
Spread of Invasive Species: When ecosystems are damaged, it can become easier for invasive
species (animals or plants that don't naturally belong there) to take over, further reducing
biodiversity.
Economic Impacts: Many people rely on the ocean for their livelihoods (fishing, tourism). Loss
of marine biodiversity can harm these industries.
Let’s look at some real-world examples and shocking data.
First, the bluefin tuna population has dropped by 96% — mostly due to overfishing for
sushi and luxury markets.
Second, about 1 in 3 fish stocks worldwide are being overfished, according to the
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
In West Africa, many foreign industrial ships illegally fish in local waters, which
damages the environment and hurts coastal communities that rely on fishing to
survive.
Also, around 100 million sharks are killed every year, often just for their fins. This
weakens ocean food chains and increases species imbalance.
Even though the situation is serious, there are many ways to
stop overfishing.
First, we can create marine protected areas, where fishing
is banned or limited so fish populations can recover.
Next, governments should set strict fishing quotas and
actually enforce them.
We also need to fight illegal fishing with stronger
surveillance and international cooperation.
As consumers, we can choose sustainable seafood by
looking for ecolabels like the MSC (Marine Stewardship
Council).
Finally, education is key. People need to understand how
serious ocean depletion is — and that their choices matter.
In conclusion, overfishing is not just about fish. It
affects biodiversity, food security, ecosystems, and
climate.
It’s a global issue that demands urgent action.
Governments must take stronger action, but people
— like us — also have a role.
If we protect marine life, we protect our future.
Thank you for listening.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION!
