I've received several emails voicing concern over fishing down food webs since posting last week about the Yangtze River Dolphin: the first cetacean species likely driven to extinction by human activity. Just remember, it's not a dismal picture when you hold the Montgomery Burns perspective!
Keeping economics in mind, there's arguably reason to question whether we should fret over the oceans' dwindling and altered stocks. Human tastes are malleable, so we adapt to what industry supplies. For example, lobster and skate - traditionally the 'poor fisherman's dinner' - are now featured at NYC's finest restaurants. Thus, a boom in lower trophic level species creates newly emerging markets! When traditionally harvested species decline, there is tremendous opportunity to cash in by exploiting the next readily available critter. From Orange Roughy to algae...Why not allow every commercially viable animal possible its 15 minutes of fame? Hey, when life deals you jellyfish, make a salad! Garnish it with a fancy name, add a hefty pricetag... Excellent!
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At least there will always be SOME creature in the ocean to eat next...or will there be? Just like email can replace the need for paper correspondance!
Technology will save us and clean up the mess we've made, and that's an investment Mr Burns would certainly approve of.
Sheril,
It was a pleasure meeting you at the conference and I'm glad you turned me onto Science Blogs. Indeed, we need more marine biologists writing on our behalf.
As you know I studied the Sea urchin: The poster organism for a boom-and-bust fishery with little vested interest in maintaining populations past a gold mine bounty. Many of the fishermen who provided me with data have since moved on as populations have declined and now use the same gear to harvest alternative species. (Your famous sea cucumber for example). This enormous problem is often trageically overlooked by managers not accounting for the high discount rate associated. I'm so glad you have highlighted the problem (perhaps influenced by our discussion?) in such a public way and I hope people wake up and think about this.
I will continue following your pursuits online, and certainly hope we are seated together at another meeting soon.
Timothy
Timothy,
In Maine, many of the guys harvesting cukes were also using retired urchin gear. Shifting Baselines are a serious threat to biodiversity, but with abundant seafood available at grocery stores, it's easy to overlook.
It was nice meeting you too. I'm sure we'll cross paths again.
mmmmmmmm urchins!!! (drool)
I'm not entirely certain the world is ready for jellyfish salad.
What should we fix, though? Where should we focus? Is the core problem human stupidity and irresponsibility, or is it human overpopulation?
We ought to find a single clear path and take it. Together.
-J the G