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Is Fishing A Renewable Resource

Is Fishing A Renewable Resource? The Concept Made Simple

By Sophia the SeaMonster on Dec 31, 2022

The idea of ‘is fish a renewable resource’ may be confusing, but you don’t need to be a physics or biology student to understand the concepts. I’ll try my best to make it simpler. By the end of the article, I don’t think there would be any confusion left.

So, let’s get started.

First things first - natural resources are divided into two types: nonrenewable, aka ‘stock’ resources, and renewable, aka ‘flow’ resources. Understanding the former is the key to understanding the latter and then relating it to fish.

Nonrenewable resources are energy sources that take years to form and are finite (bound to be exhausted shortly). Examples include coal or gas. You burn them, and their leftovers can’t be recycled or reproduced into their original forms again.

This idea directly leads us to figure out:

What is A Renewable Resource?

Well, the ‘renewable’ resource is quite the opposite of the nonrenewable.

According to the National Geographic Society,

“Renewable resources are an energy source that cannot be depleted and are able to supply a continuous source of clean energy.” (source, National Geographic Society). These resources are renewed in a specific, shorter time frame.

Renewable resources further have two subsets:

  • Those that provide a continuous supply which we meet our food needs through, such as forests and other grain fields.
  • Those that help us meet our mechanical needs (which we use for vehicles, appliances, etc.). These include biomass energy (such as ethanol), hydropower, the geothermal, wind, and solar power.

Now, just make it simple:

Is Fish A Renewable Resource?

Based on what a renewable resource is and other essential facts, fish falls into the category of being a renewable resource, further getting filtered down into the first ‘subset’ mentioned above.

Fish is renewed using a natural, continuous biotic reproduction. Moreover, the fact that renewable resources are bound to provide a constant supply of energy strongly justifies fish for being a renewable resource.

Though some environmental and societal factors may affect the continuous supply of fish, it’s still sufficient to fulfill its demand.

At this point, I think I should clarify the concept more clearly by explaining the term I used above, i.e., natural physical systems’ and give an example.

Geothermal energy is another renewable resource that uses the earth's heat and naturally occurring underground hot water reservoirs to power generators. The sustainability of geothermal energy depends on sunlight. The day without sunrise would be the end of this renewable resource.

Factors Affecting Fish’s Renewability

While fish is logical - and scientifically - a renewable resource, their future is now found to be standing on the edges of a slippery slope. Nearly 90% of the world's fish stocks are fully exploited or overexploited, pushing scientists to estimate that in 30 years, there may be little or no seafood available.

Fish require careful human society management to ensure their continuous availability. However, intensive exploitation can take it to the point where it can no longer be renewed and become stock (non-renewable) resources.

A few steps are worth taking by fishermen in this context:

  • First, get to learn about your local marine life. The endangered species and why they’re essential for the ecosystem must be on your to-do fishing list.
  • Practice catch and release. Become an ethical angler and obligate to the regulations related to the seasons, size, and bag sizes when fishing.
  • Cut out single-use plastic. Instead, go for reusable plastic items. Every year, millions of pounds of plastic in the form of plastic grocery bags, bottles, utensils, straws, etc., are dumped into the ocean, killing and harming marine life.
  • Use organic fertilizers, not artificial ones. The synthetic fertilizers used in the waterfront properties run into the water when it rains, harming marine life.

In Conclusion

I think it's pretty much a brief yet comprehensive write-up on whether fish is a renewable resource. So the only advice from me is to try your best to ensure this resource's sustainability and enjoy fish as food and fishing as an influential hobby in your life!

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