The End of the Line
(10 points)
Collapse of the Atlantic Cod
1. Fishermen in Newfoundland, Canada had been experiencing declining cod harvests for years when a sudden change was announced in 1992. What was the change? Mark it with a line on the graph.
2. What was the economic impact on Newfoundland of this decision? Did the stocks of Atlantic Cod recover?
3. In 2001, records showed that local stocks of fish were down worldwide. Yet, records of harvests indicated that fish were being taken at record rates. What was actually happening?
Plight of the Bluefin Tuna
4. Stocks of Bluefin tuna have dropped by 80%. What reasons are given for this and other population declines seen in commercial fish?
5. Why is Bluefin tuna particularly at risk?
6. List the recommended quota limit for Bluefin tuna, the recovery limit (so stocks could replenish), the quota set by the politicians, and the actual estimated catch.
Recovery Limit –
Recommended Limit –
Established Quota –
Actual Catch -
7. The documentary alleges that the Japanese corporation Mitsubishi is hoarding tons of frozen Bluefin tuna. Why would they?
Fishing in Senegal
8. Why are native fishermen having such a difficult time making a living along the West coast of Africa?
9. What species of marine animals make up “bycatch”? What percent of total catch does this make up?
The Coral Triangle
10. Which trophic level of fish is hunted in the Coral Triangle?
11. What impacts have been observed at Chesapeake Bay as a result of selective hunting like this?
12. Atlantic Cod in Newfoundland occupied a similar level on the ecological pyramid – how has their absence impacted the food web?
A Time For Change
13. Describe four ways that fishing in Alaska is more tightly controlled and regulated, thus preventing a collapse of their fishing stocks.
14. What is Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification?
15. What is the problem with fish farming or aquaculture? How many kilos of anchovy are needed to produce a kilo of salmon? What would be a better option for consumers?
16. What are marine reserves? How do ecosystems respond once an area is declared a reserve?
17. What percent of the ocean would need to be reserves to maintain sustainable fishing stocks? What percent is currently part of a reserve?
Discussion Questions
18. Are ocean fish as we are harvesting them a renewable or nonrenewable resource?
19. Bottom-trawling is frequently mentioned in the documentary as one of the worst, most damaging forms of commercial fishing. Explain why.
20. According to the documentary, 50% of Atlantic Cod is caught illegally. One quote given is “every other cod in your plate is stolen – from you.” Is this accurate? Are the oceans a commons area?
21. If a gourmet restaurant were to put dishes with endangered mammals on the menu – such as orangutan or lions, it would be a huge public scandal. Why isn’t there a similar reaction to endangered fish?
Extension questions:
1. Between 1950 and 2000, global meat production increased from 52 billion kilograms to 240 billion kilograms. During this period, the global human population increased from 2.6 billion to 6.0 billion.
(a) Calculate the per capita meat production in 1950 and in 2000.
(b) Use the values from part (a) to calculate the change in global per-capita meat production during this 50-year period as a percentage of the 1950 value.
(c) Discuss why it is more efficient to produce grain for human consumption than to produce meat for human consumption. In your answer, consider both land use and energy use.
(d) Describe two environmental consequences of the increase in the production of meat for human consumption.
(e) Identify and explain one potential advantage and one potential disadvantage for human health of a diet that contains very little meat.
2.. On a field trip to two local ponds, a group of students observed a difference between the two ponds in the diversity of worms and insect larvae living in the mud and debris near the edges of the ponds. Numerous factors, both biotic and abiotic, influence the distribution of aquatic organisms.
(a) The students decided that they would investigate some of the abiotic factors. List three water-quality tests that could be conducted and explain what information each test provides. Include in your answers a description of the impact of each factor on the distribution of aquatic organisms.
(b) Larvae of a certain insect are found in pond A but not in pond B. Design a controlled experiment that would help explain the observed distribution of these insect larvae. Be sure to include the following in your design.
1. Formulate a hypothesis.
2. Identify the variable that will be manipulated.
3. Outline the field and/or laboratory procedures that will be followed. Describe what data
you will collect.
4. Discuss the possible results and relate them to the distribution of the insect.
(c) What are indicator species, and how are they used to assess environmental quality? Give a specific example of such a species and its use.