Sustainability in Action: Seafood Industry

Oceans all over the world have acted as the primary source of livelihood for over three billion people. In fact, fish continues to be one of the most traded food commodities worldwide. However, “Is the fishing industry really as sustainable as they portray themselves to be?”

Did you know that 70.8% of the earth’s surface is covered by water? With four major oceans, holding about 96.5% of all the earth's water. These marine biomes encompass a wide variety of marine species, not to mention, they also diversified into different zones giving the necessary support required for the proliferation of marine life. Moreover, oceans play a leading role in global systems, making Earth habitable for humankind. 

For the past decades, oceans all over the world have acted as the primary source of livelihood for over three billion people. In fact, fish continues to be one of the most globally traded food products. However, as fishing industries partake in the cycle of production and consumption, many continue to question, “Is the fishing industry really as sustainable as they portray themselves to be?” 

The global fish production may have been able to supply 156 million tons of seafood for human consumption, but at what cost. At the current time, demand for seafood and advances in technology have led to fishing practices that caused marine populations around the world to decline at a rate that may soon result in a collapse of the world’s fisheries. It is undeniable that aside from the skyrocketing consumption, a continuous deterioration of coastal waters owing to pollution, overfishing, and climate change are the other challenges faced by the fishing industry. Due to this realization, many have switched to more sustainable methods of fishing but with it comes new economic challenges. 

To begin, seafood production comprises two methods, specifically, wild fish catch and aquaculture. Wild fish catch, as its name pertains to, is the harvesting of already existing populations of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals. On the other hand, aquaculture is the purposeful cultivation and subsequent harvesting of both freshwater and marine animals. Although both types of methods have its benefits, it does not come without downsides of its own.

First, fishes caught in the wild are less likely to contract diseases because they live in their natural environment. Secondly, less treatment and monitoring are performed in their habitat, leaving them free to thrive. Third, since fishes continue to hunt for their next meal, they have a more diverse diet. Unfortunately, wild-caught fishes have their disadvantages. 

First, there are several species of wild fish that are depleting in number and even close to extinction due to overfishing. Secondly, there are a number of fishing sectors that utilize destructive fishing methods which allow ships to make a big catch in such a short period of time. Examples of these harmful fishing techniques include dynamite fishing and bottom trawling which is extremely destructive as it alters the seafloor, destroying entire habitats as the ship tows the trawl. Every year bottom trawling destroys an average of 81.5 tons of deep-sea corals and sponge ecosystems that may take as long as a millennium to develop. 

On the other hand, farm-raised fishes are raised in a controlled environment. Their homes are man-made tanks above the ground or pens that are placed in large bodies of water. The first advantage of fish farming is that it allows for cheaper access to fish. Secondly, aquacultures have proven to be capable of meeting the rising demands of the population. 

However, the emergence of aquacultures can also serve as breeding grounds for unsustainable practices which will eventually bring about adverse impacts on the state of the marine environment. First, it is more probable for farm-raised fish to have higher contamination which in turn, can harm consumers. Secondly, farmed fishes are more prone to diseases due to unhygienic farming conditions. Third, high antibiotic use in farm-raised fish is common, which, unfortunately, are passed along to consumers. Fourth, fish farms can pose a threat to the condition of natural habitats of native fishes through the pollution of local waters.

In conclusion, both farm-raised and wild-caught fishes have their gains and losses. The nutrition quality of seafood largely depends on what the fish eats. Wild-caught fishes have a varied diet; thus, offering a wider variety of nutrients. In contrast, farm-raised fishes may eat the same diet, day after day. However, it all depends on the fish farm as the diet could consist of the farms’ fortified feed resulting in higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. 

Moreover, aquaculture seafood is not immediately guaranteed to be sustainable since some practices include the overfishing of wild fish to feed to the farmed fish. That is why choosing whether to support farm-raised fishes or wild-caught fishes, will still mainly depend on the fishing practices and methods of the fishery in raising and catching seafood.

In relation to the Sustainable Development Goals, responsible fishing practices are a key feature to building a sustainable ocean economy. Marine biodiversity is truly critical to the health of the people and our planet; thus, marine protected areas need to be effectively managed and well-resourced with stringent quality control procedures. 

Supplementary environmental legislations must also be implemented since in an absence of adequate regulations and laws, environment conservation cannot be fully realized. This will not only help reduce overfishing and marine pollution, both of which threaten the contribution of the sector but also encourage the fisheries to adhere to sustainable practices when raising and harvesting their fish. Doing so will ensure a food secure future and a stable source of livelihood for all.

Bibliography:

Destructive Fishing. Accessed June 25, 2021. https://marine conservation.org/media/shining_sea/theme_fishing.htm.

“FAO.org.” Fishery commodities classification | Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics (CWP) | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 25, 2021. http://www.fao.org/cwp-on-fishery-statistics/handbook/socio-economic-data/fishery-commodities-classification/en/.

 Fisheries, NOAA. “Global Aquaculture.” NOAA, June 8, 2021. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/aquaculture/global-aquaculture.

 Manyi-Loh, Christy, Sampson Mamphweli, Edson Meyer, and Anthony Okoh. “Antibiotic Use in Agriculture and Its Consequential Resistance in Environmental Sources: Potential Public Health Implications.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). MDPI, March 30, 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6017557/.

“Take Action for the Sustainable Development Goals – United Nations Sustainable Development.” United Nations. United Nations. Accessed June 25, 2021. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/.

The distribution of water on, in, and above the Earth. Accessed June 25, 2021. https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/distribution-water-and-above-earth#:~:text=About%2071%20percent%20of%20the,in%20you%20and%20your%20dog.

“The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020.” www.fao.org. Accessed June 25, 2021. http://www.fao.org/state-of-fisheries-aquaculture.

“Wild Caught vs. Farm-Raised Fish: Which Is Better?: Eco Caters.” Best Catering in San Diego, Los Angeles, & DC | Eco Caters, July 31, 2019. https://www.ecocaters.com/blog/wild-caught-vs-farm-raised-fish-which-is-better/.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) & Marine Security Problems

 The Small Island Developing States or SIDS is a distinct group comprising of 38 UN member states and 20 non-UN Members of the United Nations regional commissions. These regions are currently at risk in terms of social, economic and environmental domains. 

The SIDS are located in the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. The regions are rich sources for wildlife and flora diversity but at the same time face adverse aftereffects due to constant degradation in the environment. Keeping in view their environment and development, the United Nations in 1992 recognized their special case at the Conference held in Rio de Janeiro.

Having proximity and easy access to the massive water bodies around them works both ways - in and against their favor. Although there is a large scale production and investment in marine resources, the states are steadily losing their sole source of economic advantage due to climate change-induced biodiversity loss and hence exposure to global environmental challenges. The trading channels facilitating import-export between these states and the rest of the world turn out to be highly expensive and cost-ineffective. Mainly because of their remoteness and seclusion from the thriving international markets, the states ought to suffer huge economic losses especially during times of natural calamities when their sole breadwinner, that is, the produce from the ocean is at stake. The ocean covers up at least 28 times the landmass in these regions giving them a tag of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).

But with technological augmentation and deeper marine exploration for natural resources, the already fragile oceans’ ecosystem has been deteriorating over time. Hurricanes and storms following worsening climate change have threatened residents' livelihood - “Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate turned the 2017 tropical cyclone season into one of the deadliest and most devastating of all time, destroying communications, energy and transport infrastructure, homes, health facilities and schools.” Biodiversity holds utmost importance in the economical and spiritual lives of the communities residing on the landlocked islands as a rich source of revenue and food, but their heavy dependence on the marine resources and international traffic, a high growth rate of population, less resilience to calamities and lack of strong communication networks are pushing these regions to a declining phase of economic sustainability.

These biodiversity hotspots being disconnected from the mainstream media and the world are also susceptible to illegal activities and threats ranging from ‘traditional armed conflict to transnational crime and piracy, illicit exploitation of natural resources, climate change and climate-related natural disasters, and uneven development.’

These regions, unfortunately, act as a budding spot for illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons and even people that creates unwanted hindrances for the residents as well. The oceans become a breeding spot for possible transnational crime including robbery, terrorism etc and piracy with limited power status and capabilities of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). The area also caters to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) exploitation of the marine ecosystem raising a genuine concern for livelihood and economy. With an increase in the levels of greenhouse gases, effects of global warming are rampant in almost all the nations, but SIDS being in close proximity to oceans face the threat of impending disasters due to the melting of icebergs eventually leading to a rise in the sea level.

The regions may have been given unique status but there is a lack of international exposure and networking, limited resources and geographical boundaries and lack of financial independence. Despite the enforcement of counter-terrorism measures or non-proliferation obligations, their limited resources continue to drain evasively.

Ṭherefore, there is an ample number of threats to the peace and security of the residents and with the rise in illegal marine exploration the abundant natural resources are also on the verge of being endangered. Being small nations with limited capabilities and power dynamics, the SIDS truly require the attention of the multilateral institutions to emancipate them from financial and political restrictions and instead work in harmony to safeguard the international interests as well as the well-being of residents paving the way to termination of terrorism and other illicit operations that threaten the very sustenance of the landlocked islands and flourish as independent, futuristic flagbearers of maritime imports and exports.

 

References

1. July 2015 monthly forecast about ‘Security Challenges for Small Island Developing States.’
2. About SIDS-UN-OHRLLS (unohrlls.org)
3.  Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. (https://www.un.org/ohrlls/content/about-small-island-developing-states)
4. United Nation’s resolutions on SIDS (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/sids/about-unesco-sids/resolutions-on-sids/)

 

 

Humankind, Technology Augmentation and Everything In Between

“While the future is unknowable, the winds always blow in the direction of human progress.”     - Barack Obama

Today if you ask a layman about the first time when technology was introduced to humankind, they certainly won’t be able to put a finger on the exact date. But as soon as you hit the search engines online, an immediate response flashes, “Two million years ago- the stone age”.

It is fascinating to see that humanity has evolved so much, right from the pre-historic stone age to today’s highly advanced AI. In terms of agility, spontaneity and adaptability, our creations have also come a long way. 

Technology, a viable and crucial source in today’s era, has exceeded humane expectations and capabilities. Automation has completely taken over ancient human efforts, paving the way to a highly progressive state of affairs. In recent years, technological advancement has created a permanent place that has now turned into more of a ‘need’ to function in day-to-day lives.

The basic aim of the technology innovation was to reduce humane efforts through the use of science and create a superficial humane aid that carries out all the hardcore & strenuous jobs. Now, while the trepidation about this whole scenario was just among the workforce, its introduction and special abilities excited the capitalists. Right from the first water-powered machine to be ever made in the 4th century, to speculations regarding the term ‘supercomputers’ in the 1920s leading to the US creation of the world’s first supercomputer (CDC 6600) in 1964, it is safe to say the endless efforts were worthwhile.

Since then, humanity has never looked back. Every day we come across new inventions in the science and technology field, another tech or an AI is introduced to further lessen the human efforts. Technology and its rapid upgradation in all the sectors of the economy have undoubtedly made working more efficient and less burdensome. We are surrounded by unwaveringly surrounded by technology and artificial intelligence. The device you are reading this on? A highly advanced tech- The refrigerator to store all your perishables? Constantly evolving electronic device-a tech, the Fitbit showing your heartbeat and stamina level? A newly formed AI.  In 1937, the American sociologist Read Bain wrote that "technology includes all tools, machines, utensils, weapons, instruments, housing, clothing, communicating and transporting devices and the skills by which we produce and use them." Amazing, isn’t it? If one would have travelled back in time to convey humanity’s advancement in future, the early men might have considered them lunatic!

There’s so much more to the technological sphere than that meets our eyes. In the current fast-paced world where the clock is ticking too fast, having an AI by your side saves a huge proportion of your time. All your requirements are one click away. With the introduction of AI like Alexa and Siri, one can easily operate and surf the internet just through voice modulation. Needless to say, technology helps us communicate better with more mobility options. The entire world evolved from sending handwritten letters to sending direct messages via social media platforms. Thanks to the ever-engaging innovations by technology enthusiasts, our society is slowly heading towards a cashless and purely online based system. Technology has positively impacted millions across the globe and helped them in specializing in their domains, learning through lived experiences, getting insights into new skills and research programs. More or less, it has enabled the masses to look beyond the realms of reality and build something totally new. Technology has given wings to innovations and new hope for the sustainable survival of humankind.

Recently, the British Navy was seen testing newly formed jetpacks in the sea of their operation which confirms the fact that the future technology will encompass all human limitations and evolve to an entirely new level.

 “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.”-Christian Lous Lange, Historian

The advantages of technology augmentation may be incomparable to its cons but even a child knows that too much of something is dangerous. All the significant technological developments to date have left humankind awestruck with a hope for further explorations. This greed of ‘wanting more’ over the generations have had a bad influence on the young, developing minds. The feeling of achieving greater heights and exploring the unexplored has taken a serious toll on health and has made every need insatiable. Taking an instance of - “MARS Mission’. 

It has recently popped up in news articles that NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is planning to send a crew to Mars exploration mission by the year 2030. At first, the mere possibility of humankind travelling beyond light years seems unreal but as we come to terms with the sheer advanced mechanized era we exist in, the question of expanding humane boundaries comes into play. Even with extremely augmented AI and robotics, nations worldwide have failed to discover the depths of our oceans. According to the National Ocean Service, it’s a shockingly small percentage. Just 5 per cent of Earth’s oceans have been explored and charted – especially the ocean below the surface. The rest remains mostly undiscovered and unseen by humans. At this point, humankind has explored more portion of space than the big blue bodies back at home.^[1]

Another great disadvantage of technology is certainly the sense of dependency it creates. Artificial Intelligence created personal assistants like aforementioned Alexa and Siri might be playing you the best of music tracks but their use in front of children encourages the notion of ‘silver spoon’ wherein the kids learn from a very young age that calling out to Alexa will get them a faster response than their parents. With an upcoming generation of spoon-fed individuals, technology surely puts their potentiality at grave risk. Students no longer put in hours of hard work to complete an assignment but rather are flag-bearers of the “Google generation”-with hours of screen time damaging their eye muscles and making them less productive. The level of dependency on these technological gadgets is very unbelievable and highlights a darker side to the advancement.

Apart from this, another major issue in the technology industry is very often data breaches, that is, stealing of high-security information through hacking with mal intentions. Hackers don’t belong to a particular nation, they are omnipresent, just like our data. The cases of leaked credentials, sensitive and personal information through big companies have formed the news lately. The latest one being the Facebook data breach, leaking out the personal data of around 553 million users! Mere imagination of your phone numbers, addresses reaching people with bad intentions or ending up on the dark web sends chills to the core. Although there have been several innovations to curb the breaches and strengthen the competency of software programs, the technology remains ever uncertain. 

In this contemporary world where most of the jobs have been replaced with highly competent and dynamic AI, the value of human efforts is somewhat looked down upon. A machine may be faster than an average human but it can never supersede the core values and ethics. Moreover, it lacks emotions and the ability to feel, which differentiates it from a living, breathing soul.

Therefore, technology may bring you the utmost convenience and comfort but one must not forget the devastating effects it carries along with itself. To ensure a safe and sustainable future for humankind where humanity works alongside the growing modernization is what every leader should envision. After all, as said by Clive James- “It is only when they go wrong that machines remind you how powerful they are.”, it is in the benefactor of humankind to eradicate complete dependency upon the technology and instead evolve in terms of skills and become an irreplaceable resource. 

---

^[1] An extract from “How much of the Oceans have we explored?”

  Link- https://www.worldwideboat.com/news/miscellaneous/ocean-vs-space

Moral Science Classes Should be Made Compulsory In Schools

Through our scientific and technological genius, we've made of this world a neighborhood. And now through our moral and ethical commitment we must make of it a brotherhood. We must all learn to live together as brothers — or we will all perish together as fools

FOR THE MOTION

In today’s rat race values are eroding fast. There is a total decadence in social and moral values. Children go to school daily thinking how to scale heights they will reach; how rich education can make them. In today’s cut throat competition even the parents instruct their wards that they should top in the class.

Childhood is a very impressionable age. The mind is like soft wax, so whatever one is taught at a tender age it leaves a deep impression. Therefore, moral science must be made a compulsory subject in school curriculum. It is also a science of human soul, it’s a mirror of one’s involved mind, one’s ethics. Moral science inculcate values in mankind and value education is very vital from childhood.

Moreover, children spend so much of their precious time in schools. Therefore, schools should shoulder the responsibility of imparting moral values to them. In order to make them self-reliant, confident and responsible citizens, they need to be imparted with value-based education, which only Moral Science can do. After all today’s child is tomorrow’s citizen.

Moral science is not a religion-based subject. Rather it eliminates fanaticism, supervision and violence. It preaches “Love all Serve all.” this value is lacking in today’s generation. It helps a child to pay heed to his home science and not to be laid away by worldly show. However, theoretical knowledge is not enough. Teachers should make their life exemplary to their students. The lives of great patriots and spiritual leaders must be brought to the forefront. Only moral science can stem the tide of rapid value erosion and motivate the students towards a healthy life. As a child is then trained emotionally, mentally and physically how to be a responsible citizen or a good son or a daughter. They can resist wrong peer pressure, intolerance and through right conduct lead forward their Nation. 

Furthermore, moral science helps a person to become a better human being. One becomes more understanding, patient, pious, decent and wise. One learns to do things without any selfish motives. Pleasure is derived in doing things for others as one feel that he or she is doing it for good. The end result is that the world can become better and happier place to live in. Peace and containment can be found.

Therefore, there can be no doubt about the fact that no other subject taught in school is as important as moral science. Let the light of spirituality shine through the eyes of the little ones.

AGAINST THE MOTION

I would rather emphasize the point that knowledge is big power and this power comes through learning not nearly moral science but all other subjects even more seriously and intensively like Geography would unfold the mysteries of different regions on the globe. The study of applied science like Math, Chemistry, Physics, Biology will unravel the past potentialities that can enrich our lives and resolve many mysteries about the atom and element, land and sky, stars and planets. Where is not much effort is required to learn ethics and morality, much mental labour is involved in learning subjects dealing with different branches of learning. Moral science teaches us about moral good and bad which can be learnt spontaneously and instinctively by watching the behavior of the elders we come across daily.

The great advancement in technology in conquering time and space has been possible because much more emphasis is being laid on the study of science. Now environmental study is being given more importance and it is made compulsory subject at all levels of school education. The global warming is threateningly increasing, poising unimaginable danger to our hard gained advancement in civilization more and more stress is being laid on protecting the environment and saving the fast-depleting resources for our coming generation.

Men’s march to higher and higher ladder of civilization will remain unhampered only if he gives himself a breast with the changing scenario and cokes with it on the strength of knowledge which and powers him to fight against any eventuality.

The harmonious development of a student’s personality can be possible with equal emphasis on the study of all subjects and not just becoming an island in to himself by simply meditating on God, life and death. Let such things be special subjects of religion and metaphysics to be taken up only by those exclusively interested in this particular branch. The more we learn about other subjects, the richer will be our knowledge.