Going going . . .gone?!

IIPM PUBLICATION

Exasperated with greenhouse emissions beyond human control, scientists prescribe another 15 - 25 years before we face drastic shifts in climate patterns. Resources have been exploited to the ‘t’ while alternatives are still at nascent stages. Under such circumstances, some areas pose a major threat to our future. Here’s a rundown on the most potent of all. . .

Fish n’ chips, a legend!
Man’s greed has forever got the better of him, so it’s hardly astounding that despite knowing awfully well the after effects of hurting perhaps the most imperative of all creatures summing the aquatic food-systems, in those gigantic killer-trawlers, they went ahead and killed fishes by the millions of tonnes. With such over-fishing affecting the marine food web with dwindling numbers of turtles, sharks, seabirds and other predators because we take away their source of food – fish! Besides, commercial fishing is also to blame for needlessly eliminating thousands of dolphins, whales, sea turtles and other animals every year on account of their getting trapped in the trawler nets! To add salt to injury, these killer-trawlers have begun to penetrate deeper waters affecting even the deep-sea ecosystems.

Making matters worse are the world’s governments that are actually promoting this mindless plunder. Subsidies to fisheries are pegged at $30-$34 billion annually – approximately 25% of world fishing revenue! Nearly $20 billion are "harmful" subsidies promoting intensified fishing by providing support for boat construction and modernisation, fishing equipment, fuel and other operational costs!

Due to such apathy on our side, 70% of the world's marine fish stocks are fully exploited, over-exploited or depleted. Today, 1/3rd of all fishing stocks worldwide have reduced to 10% of their normal levels, affecting the marine ecosystems and fishermen alike. If not curbed now, such brazen acts, threaten to damage, the aquatic ecosystems beyond repair. To miss out on fish n’ chips or a ‘prawn masala’, the choice is in our hands.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative