The Fishy Predicament with Salmon

Prim Phoolsombat
Critical Thinking Paper
Blue
5/4/14















I. Introduction
A. Thesis Statement: Given that the overfishing of the North American Atlantic Salmon
is depleting their populations, and the demand for this resource is growing within the
United States, which negatively impacts the oceans ecosystem as well as the food chain,
the US Department of Fish and Wildlife must work and monitor other US organizations
to grant funds and increase advocacy for the increase of fish farming in order to replenish
the population of the North American Atlantic Salmon.
II. The Origins of Overfishing
A. General Start of Fish Demand
1. What is Overfishing?
2. 1800s: whaling for blubber
3. mid-1900s: worldwide government push for an increase in fish capacity
i. increase the availability and affordability of protein rich foods
ii. industrial fishing over local fishermen
B. Start of Heavy Salmon Demand
1. Wild Salmon Decline in 1800s
i. Dams Built
ii. local extinction
2. Low Salmon Survival Rate in Ocean
3. Beginning of Environmental Destruction
III. The Origins of Fish Farming and Recuperating
A. Start of Fishing Regulations
1. EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zones)
i. 200 mile zones
iii. 1970s Federal Fishery Conservation and Management Act (FEMA)
2. United Nations - Fish Stocks Agreement
B. Regulations Today
1. Maine Conservation Plan
2. NMFS and US Fish and Wildlife Service
i. Gulf of Maine DPS
C. Fish Farming Origins
1. Ancient Aquaculture
i. Egyptians - Land Reclamation System
ii. Chinese - Early Integrated Recycling System
IV. Extent of the Problem
A. Economic Collapse in Salmon Industry
B. Growing US Demand vs. Lowering Resources
C. Population Decrease
V. Fish Farming - Outdoor Open Ocean Cage
VI. Fish Farming - Indoor Farming/ Fry Farming
VII. Fish Farming - Integrated Recycling Systems
VIII. Consequences
A. Effect on Atlantic Ecosystem
B. Effect on Human Society
IX. Conclusion























When considering the hot button issues of our country today, problems surrounding
abortion, the legalization of marijuana, gun rights, immigration control, the economy, and many
more come to mind. Quietly, in the background of all the political hubub occurring nationwide,
the fishing industry is collapsing and destroying our oceans, which we once thought were a
plentiful and unlimited resource to draw upon. Particularly, the increasing demands of the
American population for the beneficial salmon species is causing tension and the suffering of
these marine creatures. Given that the overfishing of the North American Salmon is depleting
their populations, and the demand for this resource is growing within the United States, which
negatively impacts the oceans ecosystem as well as the food chain, the US Department of Fish
and Wildlife must work and monitor other US organizations to grant funds and increase
advocacy for the increase of fish farming in order to replenish the population of the North
American Salmon.
Overfishing is defined as The practice of commercial and non-commercial fishing which
depletes a fishery by catching so many adult fish that not enough remain to breed and replenish
the population. (Koster, Overfishing) This overextraction of various fish populations had been
occurring for centuries. The first notable and modern day beginning of overfishing impacted
whales in the late 1800s, as humans found need for their rich blubber to use as fuel. (The Ocean,
National Geographic) A global industrialization of the fishing industry took place in the mid
1900s shortly after World War II, as many governments recognized that the availability of
protein - rich foods was important to support their recovering populace. In order to maximize the
amount of seafood captured, the government passed policies, subsidies, and provided loans in
favor of growing industrial fishing companies. With the increased efficiency and favor towards
industrial fishing operations, local fishermen were soon replaced by corporate giants as the
worlds source of seafood. (The Ocean - National Geographic)
The decline of wild salmon concurrently started in the 1800s, as the North American
salmon had always been revered as a game and commercial fish. (Canisius Ambassadors for
Conservation) They reproduce by heading upstream of rivers to provide a safe environment for
the next generation to grow in before heading back out to sea. Fishermen have always known
this, and so they maximize their fishing capacity by targeting the large number of adult salmon
during the reproduction season. This causes a large gap in the salmon population, and salmon
became locally extinct in certain areas due to, Overexploitation, degradation of water quality,
and damming of rivers. (NMFS NOAA) The continuation of exploitation in the ocean lowered
the salmons rate of survival, at from that point onwards, the North American salmon population
began to take a heavy toll from environmental destruction.
As leading countries in the world slowly began to recognize the issue of overfishing,
fishing regulations were slowly set in place, though many were ineffective. Though the United
Nations had set international fishing laws in the 1950s and 60s, they were not effective until the
1970s, when countries declared EEZs, or Exclusive Economic Zones. These were 200 mile
border lines off the coast of each country that gave them control over their own use of fishing,
which prevented foreigners from exploiting the nations waters and also guaranteed only the
countrys inhabitants would be able to access the local seafood. In 1976, the Federal Fishery
Conservation and Management Act was passed that established the United States EEZ. The
FCMA was later revised and renewed in 1996 and, required that the nation's eight fishery
management councils devise ten-year plans to rebuild depleted fisheries. (Blackford, Origins
OSU) In order to specify which species were suffering in particular, some more research was
done by the government using, A survey of 300 major fish species completed in 1998 by the
U.S. Marine Fisheries Service [that] showed that 90 were overfished, 10 were approaching that
condition, and 200 were healthy. In 2006, the news was worse. A new survey revealed that 82
percent of the major fished stocks in American waters suffered from over-fishing. (Origins
OSU) The regulation of fishing for salmon failed particularly on the Atlantic coast in the interest
of a sustainable harvest. The United Nations again attempted to promote regulations for fishing
and passed the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory
Fish Stocks Agreement to establish, detailed minimum international standards for the
conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks,
(United Nations - Oceans and Laws of the Sea) While the agreement helped to prevent further
and more extensive exploitation, it did not help to replenish any fish and the United Nations had
barely helped as a good portion of the damage had already been done.
Today, there are several plans in effect to try and protect the salmon species. To support
the wild Atlantic population, which generally lives between Maine and the area around
Newfoundland, there is a Maine Conservation Plan to, reduce potential impacts to Atlantic
salmon from recreational fishing, agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry. (NMFS NOAA) A
federal Recovery Plan, which is very similar to the Maine Conservation Plan, is also in effect. A
distinct population segment or DPS of the Gulf of Maine (which was expanded in 2009 by the
National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) of the remaining
salmon are being protected by both the public and private sector and these fish are being stocked,
but even with these efforts, the fish is still an endangered species.
The scarcity of the salmon is an extensive issue. Though many may not think it, the
salmon industry is practically dead because. (Yoeman, CalTrout) With the species in danger, the
amount of wild caught salmon is extremely limited and very closely monitored, and the salmon
provided in local supermarkets are usually very expensive to deal with the low quantity. Salmon
for sport is also being depended on by communities around the Great Lakes, and Californias
economy has suffered from the rapid decline of Pacific salmon. (CalTrout) As well, sushi has
become a part of American culture, increasing the demand for salmon which is a popular sushi
fish and all around popular for Japanese food. (Wharton, University of Pennsylvania) With
salmon being such a popular source of fine dining and recreation all across America, its not
surprising that we have overfished the species nearly to death. Thankfully, the government and
the US Department of Fish and Wildlife can move forward from just monitoring the current
bleak salmon population and push to replenish.
Many scientists say most fish populations could be restored with increased use of
aquaculture, (The Ocean - National Geographic) and so fish farming is a viable solution to
regain salmon and all other types of fish. Ancient societies had even used fish farming as a
strategy to maintain their own source of seafood. The ancient Chinese are credited with the
earliest records of fish farming, and they used mainly integrated recycling systems. It was highly
effective, and integrated recycling systems are used today. Another ancient society, the
Egyptians, used fish farming, and are well known for it even today. They used a land reclamation
system. (FAO Aquaculture Development) However, while those ancient civilizations used fish
farming for conveniency, America today needs to prevent the extinction of the North American
salmon. There are several ways to farm fish that are being used that would be most efficient at
regrowing salmon, that have roots from these ancient techniques.
Outdoor Open Ocean farming consists of putting growing salmon in secure cages in the
ocean, or in a body of water. The cages keep the salmon from escaping and protects them from
predators. Since the cages are more open, the water can flow through the cages easily, keeping
the fish environment clean. (Mother Earth) Copper alloys used for netting helps to further clean
the waters around the caged fish farm. The fish are fed and harvested when they have reached a
marketable size. The salmon can be put in the ocean for the two or three years between their
reproduction seasons, at which time the salmon sperm and eggs are collected to be placed into
another fish farm. This system yields large numbers of salmon without having to build an indoor
habitat, and this product satisfies American demand while reliance on wild caught salmon, which
has been severely constricted, is lifted.
On the contrary, indoor or fry farming is another possibility for something the
government could choose to fund. Salmon eggs are raised until they are fry (the equivalent of a
toddler for humans) or older and then placed in nearby streams and rivers. This is a great way to
restock North American waterways with salmon. (World Watch) While facilities would have to
be built on land, it opens up possibilities for cities that have a longer travel time to wait for
packaged salmon. The circulated waste water could also be sent to nearby farms as fertilizer.
Indoor farming also gives humans complete control over the environment of the fish, so in the
case of illness, situations already monitored would be resolved quickly. In addition, scientists
would have a plentiful stock of fish to draw research on.
The integrated recycling system, which is what the ancient Chinese had used, is an all in
one farm. The waste water from the fish is supplied directly to the growing plants, and the fish
eat the algae that grows from the nitrate rich water, as well as being fed protein rich food.
Microorganisms in the water would have converted the ammonia to nitrates. Though a large
amount of water is used, it is filtered and then circulated into the cycle again, making the
integrated recycling system an unwasteful and convenient type of fish farming. (Environmental
Leverage) Generally, the fish tanks are placed in a greenhouse, saving space and performing
double duty. Areas with integrated recycling systems have the advantage of vegetation and
seafood resources that can be easily distributed.
If left untouched, the overfishing of salmon will lead to their extinction and cause serious
problems for humans and upset the balance of the ecosystem and food chain everywhere. The
general fishing industry provides a multitude of jobs to communities everywhere, and is a large
portion of the American economy. The graver consequences will hurt nature. In a basic food
chain, there is marine vegetation, small fish, such as herring, larger fish like the salmon, and
large carnivores such as bears, sharks, or dolphins. If salmon were to go extinct and be removed
from the food chain, there would be more herring, since their natural predator is gone. The
herring population would increase and consume more vegetation. The large predators of the
salmon would die off, and the local food chain would collapse. (Fisheries and Oceans)
Everything in the ecosystem is connected to each other, and a severe impact on the food chain
means that the quality of nature is further degraded.
With all the dangers of the lowering North American salmon populations and the
increasing demand of the resource in the United States, fish farming is an essentially solution
that the US Department of Fish and Wildlife must push and support with increased advocacy
towards other US organizations and the fishing industry. If salmon are not replenished, the
oceans global ecosystem and food chain will fail, leaving humans behind to clean up the
destruction left behind.




Annotated Bibliography
Blackford, Mansel. A Tale of Two Fisheries: Fishing and Over-Fishing in
American Waters. Origins. Ohio State University, Sept. 2008. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://origins.osu.edu/article/tale-two-fisheries-fishing-and-over-fishing-american-
waters>. This article was extremely helpful in describing many of the early attempts to
regulate overfishing. Both the actions of the United Nations and the United States was
given, to give perspective on how different laws affected the fishing industry.
Environmental Leverage, ed. Aquafarming: Fish or Shrimp farming.
Environmental Leverage. Environmental Leverage, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.environmentalleverage.com/Aquaculture.htm>. This resource gave lots of
information on the different types of fish farms, and each ones particular effect on the
surrounding environment and its efficiency. It also provided many factors of fish farming
that fisheries consider, and gave a general summary of commercial fish farming.
FAO Corporate Document Repository, ed. History of Aquaculture. FAO
Corporate Document Repository. Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, n.d. Web. 31
Mar. 2014. <http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/009/ag158e/ag158e02.htm>. This resource
provided historical information on the earliest forms of aquaculture, such as with the
ancient Chinese and ancient Egyptian societies. It allowed me to compare their
techniques to todays forms of fish farming.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, ed. Global Consequences of Overfishing.
Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 3 Feb. 2009. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/international/isu-global-eng.htm>. This page is run by the
Canadian Fisheries and Oceans, and it detailed the consequences of overfishing. Both the
social and economic impacts towards humans were described, as well as the overall
environmental impact on the oceans ecosystem.
Institute for the Study of Human-Animal Relations, ed. Over Fishing. Canisius
Ambassadors of Conservation. Canisius College, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.conservenature.org/learn_about_wildlife/orca_salmon_forest/overfishing.ht
m>. This source provided general information on salmon fish farming. Specifically, it
gave an overview of the situation surrounding the North American salmon, which is what
I chose to focus on.
McLarney, Bill. Farming Fish in Cages. Mother Earth News. Ogden
Publications, 1983. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/farming-fish-
zmaz83mjzraw.aspx#axzz2xVmv1LOc>. This article was written quite a while ago, and
gave a historical perspective on the views of aquaculture of America in 1980s, and
allowed me to reflect on the views and attitudes towards aquaculture today.
National Geographic. Overfishing. National Geographic: The Ocean. National
Geographic, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.
<http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-overfishing/>. This source
was great for a general timeline of the overfishing issue. It didnt have any specifics on
actual farm fishing, but it discussed the origins of this problem, some failed attempts at
fixing it, and also the consequences that are to come if unsolved. It also provided a mix of
background information with some statistics as well, which I will consider using in the
paper.
NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, ed. Atlantic Salmon (salmo
salar). NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources. NOAA Fisheries Office of
Protected Resources, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/atlanticsalmon.htm>. This source provided
lots of information on US efforts to curb overfishing. Specifically, information on the
Atlantic Salmon was given and how the state of Maine is making efforts to protect its
population.
.Overfishing - A Global Disaster. Pepijn Koster, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.
<http://overfishing.org/> This entire site is being cited because it contains a treasure trove
of articles and links to external sources. As well, it has several of its own articles that
describe overfishing, why it is a problem, what can be done to fix it, as well as where else
to find information. Overall, the website provides a brief background, as well as a helping
hand in leading the reader to other valuable resources.
Robin Marks. In Depth: Fish Farming. Jean-Michel Custeau Ocean Adventures.
PBS, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.
<http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/episodes/amazon/indepth-fishfarming.html>.
The site is from a PBS show on ocean life. It gives a surprising amount of details in
listing the pros and cons of fish farming, and will be a link to be kept for use in next
years paper. In general, it gives a list of popular arguments surrounding fish farming and
a little description for each, and will be useful for reference for more in depth research.
United Nations, ed. The United Nations Agreement for the Implementation of
the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December
1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly
Migratory Fish Stocks (in force as from 11 December 2001). Oceans and Law of the Sea
United Nations. United Nations, 31 July 2013. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_overview_fish_stocks.
htm>. The United Nations passed an agreement dealing with fish stocks, and their page
provided details and a general summary of this important deal to strive to protect general
fish populations.
University of Pennsylvania, ed. A Fish Tale on a Macro Scale: How Sushi Has
Changed Globalization (and the World). Knowledge at Wharton. Wharton University of
Pennsylvania, 27 Aug. 2007. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/a-fish-tale-on-a-macro-scale-how-sushi-
has-changed-globalization-and-the-world/>. This useful website showed sushi impacted
American culture and curbed the general growth of the popularity and demand for the
North American salmon. It also gave insight on the health benefits of the salmon and why
Americans would want to consume it.
WorldWatch Institute, ed. New Fish Farms Move from Ocean to Warehouse.
WorldWatch Institute. WorldWatch Institute, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5718>. This article was published very recently and
gave updates on the progress of indoor fish farming. It showed that water circulation has
been improved which means conditions for fish farms and for salmon have improved
significantly.
Yoeman, Barry. The Real (and Economic) Costs Of The Decline Of Californias
Salmon. CalTrout. California Trout, 12 June 2013. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<https://caltrout.org/2013/06/the-real-and-economic-costs-of-the-decline-of-californias-
salmon/>. The article gave information on the consequences of the decline of the Pacific
salmon, which is included in the North American salmon species. it showed what would
happen to the food chain as well as the local economy.





























Works Cited
Overfishing - A Global Disaster. Pepijn Koster, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.
<http://overfishing.org/>
National Geographic. Overfishing. National Geographic: The Ocean. National
Geographic, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.
Institute for the Study of Human-Animal Relations, ed. Over Fishing. Canisius
Ambassadors of Conservation. Canisius College, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.conservenature.org/learn_about_wildlife/orca_salmon_forest/overfishing.htm>.
NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, ed. Atlantic Salmon (salmo salar).
NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources. NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources,
n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. <http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/atlanticsalmon.htm>.
Blackford, Mansel. A Tale of Two Fisheries: Fishing and Over-Fishing in American
Waters. Origins. Ohio State University, Sept. 2008. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://origins.osu.edu/article/tale-two-fisheries-fishing-and-over-fishing-american-waters>.
Yoeman, Barry. The Real (and Economic) Costs Of The Decline Of Californias
Salmon. CalTrout. California Trout, 12 June 2013. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<https://caltrout.org/2013/06/the-real-and-economic-costs-of-the-decline-of-californias-
salmon/>.
University of Pennsylvania, ed. A Fish Tale on a Macro Scale: How Sushi Has Changed
Globalization (and the World). Knowledge at Wharton. Wharton University of Pennsylvania, 27
Aug. 2007. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. <http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/a-fish-tale-on-a-
macro-scale-how-sushi-has-changed-globalization-and-the-world/>.
FAO Corporate Document Repository, ed. History of Aquaculture. FAO Corporate
Document Repository. Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/009/ag158e/ag158e02.htm>.
McLarney, Bill. Farming Fish in Cages. Mother Earth News. Ogden Publications,
1983. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. <http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-
livestock/farming-fish-zmaz83mjzraw.aspx#axzz2xVmv1LOc>.
WorldWatch Institute, ed. New Fish Farms Move from Ocean to Warehouse.
WorldWatch Institute. WorldWatch Institute, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5718>.
Environmental Leverage, ed. Aquafarming: Fish or Shrimp farming. Environmental
Leverage. Environmental Leverage, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.environmentalleverage.com/Aquaculture.htm>.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, ed. Global Consequences of Overfishing. Fisheries and
Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 3 Feb. 2009. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. <http://www.dfo-
mpo.gc.ca/international/isu-global-eng.htm>.