by Chantae Samuels
Overfishing, an unsustainable practice that has been plaguing our island’s beautiful waters and reefs. If your wondering, overfishing is the removal of fish species from a body of water at a faster rate than the population can be replenished (Anderson, 2023). This will thus lead to species being underpopulated in that area. The fishing industry of Jamaica is faced with the issue of too many fishermen declining fish resources and making things worst by using destructive techniques. Some of these fishermen are even catching undersized fishes with no catch limits (Overharvesting Jamaica’s fisheries, 2022). With this done, how can the industry maintain sustainable development? which is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs also. Therefore, it will be difficult to maintain sustainability if fishermen are catching juvenile fish.
Additionally, for unsustainable fishing, use of dynamites, for example, destroys the coral reefs which are habitats. If habitats are destroyed, so will the supply of fish. Hence, we see where overfishing impacts coral reef degradation. When fish grazers such as parrot fish are being removed due to overfishing, this allows algal blooms to further develop as the grazers who would normally clean these reefs are gone. As a result, the coral reefs are smothered, and its health affected.
Not only this, but we should also know that overfishing can be linked to Jamaica’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris agreement. When coral reefs are damaged, coastal areas can become affected by extreme weather such as storms due to climate change. How you might ask? Because reefs can act as a buffer against waves and storms. Therefore, one of Jamaica’s projects under the NDC is community-based climate resilience in the Fisheries sector. It seeks for more sustainable and stronger fisheries policies and frameworks, as well as, encourage measures such as the restoration of resources in overfished areas or monitoring to limit illegal practices (CIF, 2022).
Finally, to tackle overfishing, we must use a systems thinking technique which looks at a whole ecosystem rather than the problem itself. It will help explore solutions that will reduce overfishing in the long term and still have a balance in the ecosystem. Regulations to protect and have sustainable harvests are often breached by fishermen who do not act responsibly. Therefore, they are the root of the problem. Not only should we have fish sanctuaries so protect fish stocks, but also extend training to fishermen and have vigorous monitoring and enforcement of fishing policies and proper techniques. Let’s act responsible as natural and human capital are complementary which is the idea of strong sustainability.
Anderson, M. (2023, January 26). Greater enforcement and monitoring to tackle overfishing.
Jamaica Information Service. https://jis.gov.jm/greater-enforcement-and-monitoring-to-tackle-overfishing/
CIF. (2022, January 5). Promoting community-based climate resilience in the fisheries sector in Jamaica.
https://www.cif.org/news/promoting-community-based-climate-resilience-fisheries-sector-jamaica
Overharvesting and poaching devastate Jamaica’s fisheries. (2022, July 27). The Jamaica Gleaner. https://jamaica-
gleaner.com/article/news/20220727/overharvesting-and-poaching-devastate-jamaicas-fisheries