Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 586

Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference on Public Relations and

Social Sciences (ICPRSS 2021)

The Impact of Overfishing on Environmental

Resources and the Evaluation of Current Policies and
Future Guideline
Yuanyang Du1, *, †, Jiale Sun2, †, Guoyun Zhang2, †
1
Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shanxi Province, China
2
The attached school of Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
*
Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
†
These authors contributed equally.
ABSTRACT
The phenomenon of overfishing was first documented in the 19th century, when it was discovered that whale fat could
be used to make lamp oil. This led to a huge increase in whaling, brought the species to the brink of extinction.
Shortly thereafter, in the middle of the 20th century, some of the most common fish, such as herring, sardines and cod,
were also overfished to extinction. And in this paper, the overfishing problems in Cape Cod is used as a case study as
explanation. Some vicious effects did happen in the Cape Cod: decimated marshes due to a sharp decline in predators,
and the economic decline of cod fishing. However, due to a series of economic production and fisheries unsustainable
problems continued to arise. Indeed, the problem of overfishing was even worse and got into a vicious cycle. Not only
for this aspect, liberalism also ran deep in overfishing. Along with the spread of liberalism, there were growing calls
for market liberalization. And eventually, the government could not afford to regulate it and the privatization of the
fishery industry grew. Privatization, in this case, had not effectively solved the problem, but had expanded the area of
overfishing. Overfishing did not begin to improve until policies were introduced in the late 20th century. These results
offer a guideline for our analysis of overfishing problem and further perspectives.

Keywords: Overfishing, Liberalism, Climate Change, Privatization, Entire Eco-system, Industrialization,

History.

1. INTRODUCTION because of overfishing, and over 70% of the world’s

fish populations are either fully exploited or
Overfishing refers to the removal of certain types of depleted. Meanwhile, global warming has further
fish from water bodies at a rate that the species cannot affected the development of global fisheries, forming a
replenish, resulting in a sparse population of these vicious circle.
species in the area. Compared to climate change, air
pollution, or water pollution, the issue of overfishing is This paper will mainly introduce and analyze a
frequently overlooked. Even if this happens or it is a series of related problems of overfishing. Besides, Cape
warning for the depletion of more marine resources in Cod as a very representative case of overfishing will
the future, Human beings are still overfishing many also be mentioned to demonstrate the overfishing
species because they desire more wealth, which is development around the world and give a brief
overwhelmed and greedy for the ocean. introduction to Cape Cod. The next part is the detailed
analysis of The negative impact of overfishing On the
Contrary to popular belief, modern fishing is no Natural environment, and the third part will discuss the
longer a profession left to chance and the eye of god. main reasons for overfishing. The last part is the
Sophisticated fishing tools allow fishermen to catch deconstruction of the effectiveness of existing relevant
fewer fish and reduce their chances of escaping, which policies, as well as the combination of international
can harm the reproduction of fish. Commercial fishing relations theories (e.g., liberalism).
usually involves casting nets between two boats, while
fish are unable to swim backward. Therefore, once they 2. THE HISTORY OF OVERFISHING
are caught in the net, there is no escape unless they are
small enough to fit through the net's mesh. Fully 25 This section will focus on a series of processes that
percent of the world’s fisheries are at risk of collapse led to the emergence and development of overfishing

Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.

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throughout history, resulting in the case that will be unacknowledged role as a chief climate regulator.
analyzed in this article: Cape Cod. However, when they are emptied, that ability wanes [3].
While scientists have long been aware of the decline
2.1. The Development of Overfishing of Marine communities, there has been little research on
how fishing or finning affects ecosystem-level processes,
Overfishing was first documented in the 1800s when
including climate change. The loss of predators can lead
people discovered that whale fat could be used to create
to large-scale ecosystem effects, including an increase
lamp oil. This resulted in a massive increase in whale
in biological carbon dioxide in the ocean. Since most
fishing, which brought the species to the brink of
commercially caught fish are predators, fishing and
extinction [1]. Afterward, in the middle of the 20th
finning have led to a rapid decline in the number of
century, some of the most commonly eaten fish such as
predators in Marine ecosystems. This removal of
herring, sardines, and cod, were also wiped out because
predators is likely to increase ocean ecosystems’
of overfishing. There is no doubt that each fish plays an
CO2 production, and ultimately that fishing an shark
important role in the biological cycle, and when their
finning are contributing to climate change [4].
regional consumption accumulated, would make a
devastating effect on global ecology and fisheries
markets. 3. THE CAPE COD CASE STUDY
In the middle of the 20th century, the problem arose 3.1 A Review of Overfishing On Cape Cod
mainly because the international community of ways
and means was actively trying to provide consumers The Cape Cod research is one of several that
with foods rich in protein, and Marine products were the indicate that overfishing (including recreational fishing)
first to do so. The government has been trying to has serious repercussions. The Cape Cod is a
improve the efficiency of the fishing industry by geographical promontory that extends from the
developing new and better fishing tools. Preferential southeastern corner of the Massachusetts mainland in
policies, loans, and subsidies are given to private the northeastern United States to the Atlantic Ocean. As
companies and commercial fleets, which increase their the name suggests, the marine resources here, especially
frequency and motivation to go out to sea and use the fishery, are very developed. For many years, cod has
increasingly sophisticated methods to ensure that fish of been and will continue to be the staple food of the
all kinds cannot escape. More fish products are available United States and other European and American
for purchase, and consumers are used to buy a wide countries. Millions of pounds of cod, mackerel, and
range of fish at affordable prices. other seafood are sent throughout the world every year
However, things did not go as people had expected. [5]. From the unloading of the catch through the
Oceanographers have long known that excessive fishing processing of the fish to the transportation business that
leads to overfishing, which is very damaging to the transports the fish to the grocery shop that keeps food
environment. By 1989, when about 90 million tons and supplies onboard.
(metric tons) of catch were taken from the ocean, the According to a case study done on Cape Cod, once
industry had hit its high-water mark, and yields have the predator population is overfished due to recreational
declined or stagnated ever since [2]. Fisheries for the fishing, the swamp's coastal flora would die faster [6].
most sought-after species (e.g., orange roughy, Chilean In other words, fishermen's overfishing of top-of-the-
sea bass, and bluefin tuna) have collapsed. Faced with food-chain fish has resulted in a significant increase in
the collapse of large fish populations, commercial fleets the number of Sesarma. Sesarma may breed and eat
are going deeper in the ocean and farther down the food freely without predators, resulting in the destruction of
chain for viable catches. This so-called "fishing down" the shoreline. The situation of Cape Cod is a thought-
is triggering a chain response that is upsetting the provoking example of a larger issue: overfishing.
historic and subtle stability of the sea's biological
system. 3.2 Important Salt Marshes Along Cape Cod
Are Rapidly Diminishing
2.2. Overfishing Could Be The problem for
climate change Recreational fishing is a major contributor to the
rapid decline of important salt marshes along Cape Cod
The ocean is a complex ecosystem with a series of because it strips top predators such as striped bass, blue
interactions between different species. From the slow- crabs, and smooth dogfish out of the ecosystem
growing corals and sponges that provide food, safe according to new research by Brown University
havens for fish to reproduce and grow, to the ecologists. Salt marshes are vitally important because
phytoplankton that absorb carbon and support the food they protect coastlines from erosion, filter pollutants
web, every link in the Marine food chain is crucial to headed from land to sea, and act as nurseries for the
maintaining ocean abundance. When the oceans are young of many species of crabs and fish. With far fewer
bountiful, they can continue their vital yet often predators in areas where recreational fishing is
prevalent, native Sesarma crabs have had relatively free

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rein to eat salt marsh grasses, causing the ecosystem to billion to 2 billion, and 32 years for it to grow from 2
collapse. As recreational fishing activity has reduced billion to 3 billion [2]. Since 1987, it has been
predators in many of Cape Cod's salt marsh ecosystems, increasing by 1 billion every 12 years. Thus, there are
Sesarma crabs have feasted on grasses, causing dramatic increasing economic and food needs. The number of
die-offs of the marshes [7]. fish brought ashore by the fishery depends on the
market and consumer demand. In the past century,
3.3. The Plight Of Fishermen On Cape Cod human beings have multiplied, and their demand for
food and fish has also multiplied. Coupled with the
Due to overfishing, cod stocks are nearly depleted. economic ambitions of fisheries, they force them to
To avert complete collapse, the National Oceanic and catch more fish than the ocean can replace. Overfishing
Atmospheric Administration now set limits on fish exists, but as the numbers decline and the cost of fishing
catches or quotas. In the past decade, catches have becomes higher, people face two choices: reduce the
plummeted, from 100 million pounds of cod in the early amount of fishing or look for alternatives. As things
1980s to a fraction today. At the same time, the Gulf of stand, people are choosing the latter. Instead of stopping
Maine, a frigid inlet between Cape Cod and Nova Scotia, overfishing, they continue to consume other species of
has been warming faster than 99.9 percent of the global fish and the consumption is not endless undoubtedly.
ocean. As cold-water species like lobsters move north,
Another point worth mentioning is that globalization
fishermen return empty-handed, waiting for blue crabs
is often mentioned in the issue of overfishing. Although
in warm water to eventually take their place. Cape Cod
different groups of people have different views on the
is out of cod. But fishermen have learned to adapt, so
pros and cons of globalization, there is no doubt that
now they're catching other species that are moving north
globalization as an ongoing process will continue to
as the water warms and are becoming more common in
develop and be implemented. Existing FAO research
our waters.
shows that the fisheries sectors of many countries have
and continue to benefit from globalization [6].
4. THE REASONS FOR OVERFISHING Nevertheless, from another point of view, the marine
products exported to European and American
4.1. Fishing Tools Caused Overcapacity countries are low in price and large in supply, which
also has a certain impact on the local fishery market.
As we can see from Section two how overfishing
affects the environment, the question arises: How did
overfishing come to have such an ecological
5. POLICY BASED EXPLANATION OF
impact? The scientists attributed it all to two main OVERFISHING
factors: the rapid evolution of fishing tools and the
nutritional and economic needs of a growing population. 5.1. The Policy Addresses Overfishing In The
The first factor of overfishing is overcapacity. United States
Worldwide, many fisheries industries have large ships,
equipment, and technologies that can be deployed to the In the United States, in order to effectively eliminate
depths of the ocean. They can stay at sea for weeks or something like Cape Cod, Congress has issued a series
months, and even process the fish before returning to of bills to deal with the problem: mainly the Magnuson-
shore. Experts believe that all the equipment in the Stevens Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine
world combined is enough to fish on four terrestrial Mammal Protection Act, and the National
planets. Environmental Policy Act. The first act aimed to
prevent overfishing, rebuilt overfished stocks, increased
The second factor is unsustainable fishing. long-term economic and social benefits, and ensured a
Continuous improvement of fishing tools involves the safe and sustainable supply of seafood. The Endangered
use of nets, fishing methods, and other equipment to Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act govern
catch too many fish to the point of extinction. It also and protect endangered species and important habitats in
involves catching by-catch other than fish in the process. the ocean, such as walruses and manatees. The
By-catch, which can include cetaceans, turtles, corals, principles of national environmental policy were to
and invertebrates like starfish, crabs, and sea urchins, is promote better decision-making, took into account all
frequently killed and tossed back into the sea. This environmental impacts of actions, and involved the
situation is abundant in the ocean, suffers reproductive public in decision-making to effectively improve the
harm as a result of such captures. To sum up, both of ecological environment.
these two conditions are ascribed to the development of
innovative fishing tools, which has led to the
overfishing of fish in the ocean.
5.2. The Role of Liberalism In Policy Making
Liberalism was partly reflected in policy, not just in
4.2 Economic Growth and Globalization international policy statements. Neoliberal policymakers
argued that trade liberalization was necessary to
According to the United Nations, it took more than a increase export output, made domestic production and
century for the world's population to grow from 1

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imported more competitive, and reduced debt burdens. international community will use liberalism as a tool to
Mexico tax rate on international trade had fallen from complement free trade and international regulation and
about 30 percent before the reforms to 8.6 percent, Chile to come up with a greener, profit-maximizing set of
12.5 percent and Peru 14.8 percent. Crucially, however, decisions.
production for overseas markets came at the expense of
domestic consumers because export tariffs are zero. 6. CONCLUSION
Ultimately, the fisheries sector was not immune to
privatization pressures. In Chile, the important northern In short, overfishing affects the entire ecosystem
far-water fishing industry was privatized between 1974 from both environmental and physiological aspects. It
and 1978. One consequence of such privatization had can change the size of the remaining fish, as well as the
been the rapid concentration of industry, the main way they reproduce and the rate at which they mature.
beneficiaries of which had been the main fishing groups. When too many fish are taken from the ocean, it creates
The role of major groups in the formulation of fisheries an imbalance that erodes the food web and leads to the
policy had been strengthened as income from fisheries loss of other important Marine life. At the same time,
enabled them to reinvest outside the sector. the indulgent liberalism will lead to the peak of fishery
Nevertheless, due to increasing industrialization, profit pursuit, which will further lead to the
excessive profit-oriented overfishing had led to growing uncoordinated industrial chain, even beyond the
environmental problems. In the worst cases, it led to a international tolerance range. Under the interaction of
sharp decline in local fish populations, even shorten the two, the profits of the fishing industry have
menstrual cycles, and cause eutrophication of seawater decreased year by year, and the environment has been
[8]. greatly damaged. However, researchers believe that as
the international community continues to analyze the
In this case, a new law was introduced. Under the
problem, the new policies will be more and more close
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the
to the fairness of the industrial chain and the
200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) gave coastal
sustainability of the ecology. The contribution of this
states the right to expand fishery jurisdiction, promoted
paper is to explore the effects and causes of overfishing
permits and/or prohibited foreign fleets from entering
on Cape Cod in many ways, as well as a liberal policy
their waters. In Mexico, the focus of neoliberal criticism
analysis of future policy responses based on the current
was the historic "unfair" monopoly of resource rents by
situation of overfishing. This article is a small
fisheries legislation. Meanwhile, the Ejidos was born. In
contribution to the global research on Marine resources
this case, Ejidos were Mexican communes where the
and environmental protection. It is believed that through
government used public land for agriculture. In the
the analysis of the disastrous effects of overfishing in
20th century, Ejidos was controlled by the Mexican
the Cape Cod waters and its causes, this article can fully
government. During the post-Mexican Revolution, the
arouse people's attention to Marine protection. It also
Mexican government distributed land to peasant
offers some suggestions for future policy on fishing
communities as a means of containing social unrest.
grounds in the Atlantic. Of course, this article have put
Members of the commune have use of the land, not
forward arguments that might not be enough mature,
ownership. Also, Ejidos granted made farmers
and the Angle is single, we just start from Cape Cod,
dependent on the government and created a bureaucracy
this example analysis and put forward their own views,
to register and manage them through the national
in this world,there are still many other the fishery was
Agricultural Registry [9].
confronted with a serious problem over fishing, they
Under a 1949 law, Ejidos cooperatives were granted encountered problems exist differences compared with
exclusive access to nine of the countries’ most Cape Cod. In the future, we will continue to analyze the
important offshore Marine and shellfish fisheries. The global overfishing problem from many perspectives,
1986 Federal Fishing Act expanded, rather than such realism and constructivism, starting with more
reduced, these rights, giving cooperatives exclusive cases of other fisheries in the world, and strive to
rights to nine "reserved" species, but the 1989 continue to contribute to the global Marine environment.
amendment subsequently eliminated these rights. Overall, these results offer a guideline for conservation
Furthermore, it was only recently that the Peruvian of overfished fisheries around the world.
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