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Fishery

A fishery is an organized effort by humans to catch fish Fish

A fish is a water [i]-dwelling vertebrate [i] with gills [i], that remains so throughout its life. ... 

 or other aquatic species, an activity known as fishing Fishing

Fishing is the activity of hunting [i] for fish [i]. ... 

. Generally, a fishery exists for the purpose of providing human food Food

Food is any substance, usually comprised primarily of carbohydrate [i]s, fat [i]s, vitamins, water and/o ... 

, although other aims are possible , or obtaining ornamental fish Aquarium

An aquarium is a vivarium [i], usually contained in a clear-sided container in which water [i]-dwellin ... 

 or fish products such as fish oil. Industrial fisheries are fisheries where the catch is not intended for direct human consumption . Regardless of purpose, however, the term fishery generally refers to a fishing effort centered on either a particular ecoregion or a particular species or type of fish or aquatic animal, and usually fisheries are differentiated by both criteria.

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Encyclopedia



A fishery is an organized effort by humans to catch fish Fish

A fish is a water [i]-dwelling vertebrate [i] with gills [i], that remains so throughout its life.... 

 or other aquatic species, an activity known as fishing Fishing

Fishing is the activity of hunting [i] for fish [i]. ... 

. Generally, a fishery exists for the purpose of providing human food Food

Food is any substance, usually comprised primarily of carbohydrate [i]s, fat [i]s, vitamins, water and/o ... 

, although other aims are possible , or obtaining ornamental fish Aquarium

An aquarium is a vivarium [i], usually contained in a clear-sided container in which water [i]-dwellin ... 

 or fish products such as fish oil. Industrial fisheries are fisheries where the catch is not intended for direct human consumption .

Regardless of purpose, however, the term fishery generally refers to a fishing effort centered on either a particular ecoregion or a particular species or type of fish or aquatic animal, and usually fisheries are differentiated by both criteria. Examples would be the salmon Salmon

Salmon is the common name for several species of fish [i] of the family Salmonidae [i]. ... 

 fishery of Alaska Alaska

Alaska is a U.S. state [i], located on the northwest tier [i] of North America [i] ... 

, the cod Atlantic cod

The Atlantic cod is a well-known food fish [i] belonging to the family Gadidae [i].... 

 fishery off the Lofoten Lofoten

Lofoten is an archipelago [i] and a traditional district [i] in the county of Nordland [i] ... 

 islands or the tuna Tuna

Tuna, sometimes called tunafish, are several species [i] of ocean-dwelling fish [i] in the family ... 

 fishery of the Eastern Pacific Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water [i]. ... 

. Most fisheries are marine Seawater

Seawater is water [i] from a sea [i] or ocean [i]. ... 

, rather than freshwater Fresh water

Fresh water is water [i] with less than 0.5 parts per thousand dissolved salts. ... 

; most marine fisheries are based near the coast Coast

The coast is defined as the part of the land adjoining or near the ocean [i]. ... 

. This is not only because harvesting from relatively shallow waters is easier than in the open ocean, but also because fish are much more abundant near the coastal shelf Coast

The coast is defined as the part of the land adjoining or near the ocean [i]. ... 

, due to coastal upwelling and the abundance of nutrients Nutrient

A nutrient is any element or compound necessary for or contributing to an organism's metabolism [i], gro ... 

 available there.

Fisheries historically



Fisheries have been important parts of human life and food production throughout history. Fish acts as one main food in people's everyday life as well as food security of the nation. Fisheries have become a part of human cultures and mythologies, providing a community identity and a subject for artists throughout the ages. Partially, this is because fisheries are irretrievably wrapped up in humanity’s perpetual fascination with the sea, and partially, because they have been a major source of food and income for many communities throughout the ages.

One of the world’s longest lasting trade histories is the trade of dry cod Cod

Cod is the common name for the genus [i] Gadus of fish [i], belonging to the family [i] Gadidae [i] ... 

 from the Lofoten Lofoten

Lofoten is an archipelago [i] and a traditional district [i] in the county of Nordland [i] ... 

 area to the southern parts of Europe Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

, Italy Italy

Italy, officially the Italian Republic , is a Southern European [i] country. ... 

, Spain Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a Europe [i]an parliamentary monarchy [i].... 

 and Portugal Portugal

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic is located in southwestern Europe [i] on the Iberian Peninsula [i] ... 

. The trade in cod started during the viking Viking

The term Viking commonly denotes the ship-borne explorers, traders, and warriors of the Norsemen [i] who ... 

 period or before, has been going on for more than 1000 years and is still important.

In India, the Pandyas Pandyan Kingdom

The Pandyan kingdom ????????? was an ancient Tamil [i] state in South India [i] of unknown ... 

, a classical Dravidian Tamil Tamil people

The Tamil people are an ethnic [i] group from South Asia [i] with a recorded history going back more tha ... 

 kingdom, were known for the pearl fishery as early as the 1st century BC. Their seaport Tuticorin was known for deep sea pearl fishing Pearl hunting

Pearl hunting or pearl diving refers to a now largely obsolete method of retrieving pearl [i]s fro ... 

. The paravas Paravas

Parava or Paravas, also known as Bharathar, Paravar is one of the oldest Tamil [i] ... 

, a Tamil caste centred in Tuticorin, developed a rich community because of their pearl trade, navigation knowledge and fisheries.

Fisheries in the present day



Today, fisheries are estimated to provide 16% of the world population's protein Protein

Proteins are large organic compound [i]s made of amino acid [i]s arranged in a linear chain and joined b ... 

, and that figure is considerably elevated in some developing nations Developing country

A developing country is a country [i] with a relatively low standard of living [i], undeveloped industrial base [i] ... 

 and in regions that depend heavily on the sea. Fisheries are a huge global business and provide income for millions of people. Fisheries have been and continue to be culturally important for many communities as well.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization Food and Agriculture Organization

The Food and Agriculture Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations [i] that works to r... 

 of the United Nations United Nations

name = United Nations
Nations Unies
... 

, total world capture fisheries production in 2000 was 86 million tons . The top producing countries were, in order, the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , is a country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

 , Peru Peru

Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America [i], bordering Ecuador [i]... 

, Japan Japan

is an island country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

, the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

, Chile Chile

Chile, officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America [i] occupying a long coast ... 

, Indonesia Indonesia

Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a nation of islands [i] consist ... 

, Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

, India India

India , officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia [i]. ... 

, Thailand Thailand

The Kingdom of Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia [i], bordering Laos [i] and Cambodia [i] to the e ... 

, Norway Norway

Insert non-formatted text here
... 

 and Iceland Iceland

Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland is a volcanic island nation [i] in the northern Atlantic Ocean [i]... 

. Those countries accounted for more than half of the world's production; China alone accounted for a third of the world's production. Of that production, over 90% was marine and less than 10% was inland.

There are large and important fisheries worldwide for various species of fish, mollusk Mollusca

The mollusks or molluscs are the large and diverse phylum [i] Mollusca, which includ ... 

s and crustacean Crustacean

The crustaceans are a large group of arthropod [i]s , usually treated as a subphylum [i] . ... 

s. However, a very small number of species support the majority of the world’s fisheries. Some of these species are herring Herring

Herrings are small oily fish [i] of the genus Clupea found in the temperate, shallow waters of ... 

, cod Cod

Cod is the common name for the genus [i] Gadus of fish [i], belonging to the family [i] Gadidae [i] ... 

, anchovy Anchovy

The anchovies are a family of small but common schooling saltwater plankton [i]-feeding fish [i]. ... 

, tuna Tuna

Tuna, sometimes called tunafish, are several species [i] of ocean-dwelling fish [i] in the family ... 

, flounder Flounder

Flounders are flatfish [i] that live in ocean waters in Northern Europe [i]an waters and along the east ... 

, mullet, squid Squid

Squids are a large, diverse group of marine cephalopod [i]s. ... 

, shrimp Shrimp

True shrimp are small, swimming, decapod [i] crustacean [i]s classified in the infraorder [i] ' ... 

, salmon Salmon

Salmon is the common name for several species of fish [i] of the family Salmonidae [i]. ... 

, crab Crab

Crabs are decapod [i] crustacean [i]s of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a ... 

, lobster Lobster

Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustacean [i]s. ... 

, oyster Oyster

The name oyster is used for a number of different groups of mollusc [i]s which grow for the most part in ... 

 and scallop Scallop

Scallops are the family Pectinidae of bivalve [i] mollusc [i]s.... 

s. All except these last four provided a worldwide catch of well over a million Million

One million, or one thousand thousand [i], is the natural number [i] following 999,999 and preceding 1,0 ... 

 tonnes in 1999, with herring Herring

Herrings are small oily fish [i] of the genus Clupea found in the temperate, shallow waters of ... 

 and sardine Sardine

Sardines or pilchards are a group of several types of small oily fish [i] related to herring [i]s, ... 

s together providing a catch of over 22 million metric tons in 1999. Many other species as well are fished in smaller numbers, both locally and globally.

Methods

Fishing methods vary according to the region, the species being fished for, and the amount of income and technology available to the fisher. A fishery can consist of one man with a small boat Boat

A boat is a structure designed to float on water coupled with a system of propulsion, such as a screw [i] ... 

 hand-casting nets, to a huge fleet of trawlers processing tons of fish per day. Some common commercial techniques today are trawling Trawling

Trawling is a method of fishing [i] that involves actively pulling a fishing net [i] through the water b... 

, seining Fishing net

Types of fishing nets:
;Chinese fishing nets [i] : A net horizontally held by a large fixed struture and... 

, driftnetting, handlining, longlining, gillnetting, and diving.

Fisheries and communities

For some communities, both currently and historically, fisheries provide not only a source of food and work but also a community Community

A community usually refers to a group [i] of people who interact and share certain things as a gr ... 

 and cultural Culture

The word culture, from the Latin [i] colo, -ere, with its root meaning "to cultivate", generall ... 

 identity.


This shows up in art Art

By its original and broadest definition, art is the product or process of the effective application... 

, literature Literature

Literature is literally "acquaintance with letters" as in the first sense given in the Oxford English Dictionary [i] ... 

, and traditions. These communities are generally those that have been historically dependent on fishing as a source of income and food.

Fisheries science


Fisheries science is the academic discipline of managing and understanding fisheries. It draws on the disciplines of biology Biology

Biology is the branch of science [i] dealing with the study of life [i]. ... 

, ecology Ecology

Ecology, or ecological science, is the scientific study of the distribution and abundance of living organisms [i] ... 

, oceanography Oceanography

Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science [i] is the study of the Earth [i]'s ... 

, economics Economics

In the social science [i]s, economics is the study of the production [i], ... 

 and management to attempt to provide an integrated picture of fisheries. It is typically taught in a university University

[i], which grants [[academic degree]... 

 setting, and can be the focus of an undergraduate, master's or Ph.D. program. It is in universities worldwide, usually organised as multidisciplinary programs involving parts of traditional university disciplines. In some cases new disciplines have emerged, as in the case of bioeconomics. A few universities also offer fully integrated programs in fisheries science.

See also: International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

Important issues and topics in fisheries

Considering the importance of fisheries, and that they depend on a natural resource, it is no surprise that there are many pressing environmental issues surrounding them. These can be classed into issues that involve the availability of fish to be caught, such as overfishing Overfishing

Overfishing is a situation where one or more fish stocks [i] are reduced below predefined levels of acce ... 

, sustainable fisheries Overfishing

Overfishing is a situation where one or more fish stocks [i] are reduced below predefined levels of acce ... 

, and fisheries management; and issues surrounding the impact of fishing on the environment, such as by-catch. These fishery conservation issues are generally considered part of marine conservation, and many of these issues are addressed in fisheries science programs. They are also, however, controversial. There is an apparent and growing disparity between the availability of fish to be caught and humanity’s desire to catch them, a problem that is exacerbated by the rapidly growing world population World population

The world population is the total number of human [i]s alive on the planet Earth [i] at a given time. ... 

. As with some other environmental issues, often the people engaged in the activity of fishing – the fishers – and the scientist Scientist

A scientist is an expert [i] in at least one area of science [i] who uses the scientific method [i] to d ... 

s who study
fisheries science, who are often acting as fishery managers, are in conflict with each other, as the dictates of economics mean that fishers have to keep fishing for their livelihood, but the dictates of sustainable science mean that some fisheries must close or reduce to protect the health of the population of the fish themselves. It is starting to be realized, however, that these two camps must work together to ensure fishery health through the 21st century and beyond.

The cover story of the May 15, 2003 issue of the science journal Nature Nature

Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical universe, mat... 

 – with Dr. Ransom Myers, an internationally prominent fisheries biologist as the lead author – was devoted to a summary of the scientific information. The story asserted that, as compared with 1950 levels, only a remnant of all large ocean-fish stocks are currently left in the seas.

For further information

The literature on fisheries—both scientific and popular—is vast. The literature is subdivided into dozens of topics, from fishing gear design, to the impact of fish biology and oceanography on fisheries, to how to most effectively manage fisheries. Some good places to start are the websites of fisheries science departments and the catalogs of university libraries. Some well known journals Magazine

A magazine is a periodical publication [i] containing a variety of articles, generally financed by advertising [i] ... 

 about fisheries are Fisheries, Fisheries Oceanography, Fishery Bulletin, and The Canadian Journal of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. In addition, many countries have their own regional journals.

References

  • Castro, P. and M. Huber. . Marine Biology. 4th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill.
  • Myers, Ransom and Boris Worm. . "Rapid worldwide depletion of predatory fish communities," Nature, Vol 423. London: Nature Publishing.
  • FAO Fisheries Department. . The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.


See also

  • Agriculture Agriculture

    Farming redirects here. For Farming in computer games, see Farmer [i].

... 


  • Aquaculture Aquaculture

    Aquaculture is the cultivation of the natural produce of water .... 

  • Conservation Conservation ethic

    The conservation ethic is an ethic [i] of resource use, allocation, exploitation, and protection. ... 

  • Ecosystem
  • Earthwatch
  • Fish Fish

    A fish is a water [i]-dwelling vertebrate [i] with gills [i], that remains so throughout its life.... 

  • Fish farming Fish farming

    [i]

[i]
... 


  • Fish Fish

    A fish is a water [i]-dwelling vertebrate [i] with gills [i], that remains so throughout its life.... 

  • Fishing industry Fishing industry

    The fishing industry is the commercial activity of fishing [i] and producing fish [i] and other seafood [i]... 

  • Hatcheries Hatchery

    A hatchery is a facility where egg [i]s are hatched under artificial conditions, especially those of ... 

  • Marine conservation
  • Marine ecosystem
  • Oceanography Oceanography

    Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science [i] is the study of the Earth [i]'s ... 

  • World Ocean Day
  • Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
  • International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
  • Project AWARE

External links

  • - United Nations United Nations

    name = United Nations

Nations Unies
... 

: Oceans and Coastal Areas
  • , Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is devoted to scientific research and science- and engineering-... 

  • and its
  • – A summary for non-specialists of the above FAO report by GreenFacts GreenFacts

    GreenFacts, formerly the GreenFacts Foundation, is an international non-profit [i] organization fo ... 

    .
  • , U.S. National Academy of Sciences United States National Academy of Sciences

    The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States [i] whose members serve pro bono [i] ...