A compilation of the destruction that is occurring due to overfishing. This presentation provides information about the destruction caused by overfishing as well as an activity for students to participate in. The activity could be used for students of all ages and would teach them the impact of overfishing.

2. Our Mission
 To raise awareness about ocean related issues that our
environment is facing.
 Many of us don’t realize the damage that we are
causing for our oceans and marine life.

3. Overfishing
 In the 21st century, the world’s harvest of fish has
stopped increasing.
 This is because the world’s fish stocks have been
almost fully exploited.
 Meaning that the fish population have dropped to a
level where the species have the potential to die out.

4. Why is this happening…?
 In most parts of the world fish are an important part of
the human diet.
 It provides protein, essential vitamins and minerals.
 There is a growing demand for fish, and diminishing
stock has created new destructive forms of fishing.
 Fisherman are now fishing on a large scale, with huge
nets.
 There boats pull a huge weighted net along the sea bed
and collects everything on the sea bed.

5. How is this happening…?
 Fishing used to consist of boats going out with small
nets and hoped to catch a few tons of fish, then get
back to sell the fish while it was still fresh.
 Now due to newer satellite technology fishermen are
able catch thousands of tons of fish, and have the
luxury to freeze and store them on board and continue
to fish.
 Nets range from four or five km long, making catching
fish extremely easy and efficient.

6. Innocent By-standards
 Sometimes two boats pull a net five km wide between
them, catching everything in a wide area.

7. By-Catch
 A variety of other species
unfortunately get caught as
well which is called By-
Catch.
 Some of the species caught
include whales, dolphins,
seals, turtles.
 It is estimated that25% of
what is caught in the world’s
oceans is killed and then
dumped.
 That amounts to 20 million
tons of fish every year.

8. Impact
 47% Fully exploited
 21% moderately
exploited
 18% overexploited
 9% depleted
 4% under exploited
 1% depleted stocks in
recovery

10. Importance
 It is the home of many
organisms and fish.
 Provides a protective
barrier from erosion to
coastlines
 Gives information on
changes in water quality
 Controls the amount of
carbon dioxide in the
water

11. Destruction of Coral Reefs
 Pollution
 Dynamite Fishing
 Over-fishing:
 Often times cyanide is used
to capture fish
 Coral Bleaching:
 This is a direct result of global
warming.
 The high temperatures kill
the zooxanthellae which
provide nutrients to the coral
reefs.
 African and Asia dust
outbreaks:
 The dust that gets blown into
the ocean negatively impacts
the life of the coral reefs.

12. What’s Being Done…?
 There are a number of organizations that are trying to fix
the problem:
 Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
 Blue Ocean Institute: non-profit organization that helps to
educate us about consumer seafood and works in ocean
conservation
 National Coalition for Marine Conservation: mission is to
build public awareness about threats to marine fisheries, and
reverse overfishing.
 There are many more organizations all working towards
conserving our ocean life. Find one that you can join to
help the cause.

13. What we can do to help
 Drive less
 Recycle
 Turn down heat
 Conserve Electricity
 Choose sustainable fish and seafood
 Buy local products
 Join a local organization to volunteer and support our
oceans.

14. Overfishing Activity
 Fish are an important component of the oceans web of
life and food chain. In the past fish seemed to be of an
unending supply of food, but today we are
experiencing a great loss of fish. Each species in the
ocean plays a role in their ecosystem and when the
food chain is not balanced, other species start to feel
the effects. When a large portion of a species is
removed, negative effects occur and the species either
becomes endangered or extinct.

15. Overfishing Activity cont. Focus: Effects of overfishing
 What does overfishing mean?
 What are the effects of overfishing on ocean life?
 Objective: Students will be able to explain why overfishing
has occurred in our oceans.
 Number of students about 25-30
 Goal of game: To allow students to see what happens to a
fish stock when biomass are removed from their species
 Materials: Tennis ball (labeled “LIFE”) and colored paper
(green, yellow, and red)

16. Overfishing Activity cont.
 Assign color cards to students. For every 10 students,
assign 1 red card, 2 green, 3 blue, and 4 yellow.
 Students need to spread out and have colored cards
spread out evenly among space provided.
 Have students toss “LIFE” ball (tennis ball) among
each other.
 Ball represents life, explain to kids that when a species
has sustainable population, life is easy. They are close
enough to interact (mate, protected by one another
from predators, etc.)

17. Overfishing Activity cont.
 Explain to students that marine animals and fish
have been hunted on land or fished from the waters.
Only those who lived close to the water or owned a
boat were allowed to fish. Explain to them that two
local fishermen have now entered and have 2
students with red cards sit down.
 Continue to have students toss LIFE ball around, and
ask them how it has affected the population. It
shouldn’t change because individual fishermen do
not have a huge impact on our ocean life.

18. Overfishing Activity cont.
 In the 20th century, the demand for seafood increased
and through technology we have more ways of fishing.
It is much easier to catch large amounts of fish as well
as transport them back to land. Extracting biomass
from the waters became efficient and easy.
 Explain to the class that 20 fishermen have now entered
the water and are catching fish through these
technological devices. Have students with blue cards sit
down and the rest of the students should continue to
toss the LIFE ball around.
 Now students are farther a part from one another and
with less students it makes it harder to toss the ball
around. Which means survival is difficult.

19. Overfishing Activity cont.
 The demand for fish has now increased and people
want to eat fish to live healthier lives. Fishing
technology has improved which means tons of fish are
being extracted from our oceans. Fishing vessels not
only catch fish, but they also extract by catch when
operated. Fish and other species' population is
declining due to our actions.
 Have all students with yellow cards sit down. Have the
students with the green cards toss the LIFE ball among
themselves a few times. Ask them what happens when
majority of the population is extracted.

20. Overfishing Activity cont.
 To close activity discuss these effects of overfishing:
 What problems occurred for the remaining fish (green
card students)?
 What happens if a disease breaks out?
 What happens when there are oil spills or toxins in our
waters?
 What happens if we continue our actions the way it was
presented? Will our ocean life survive?