Oceans and fisheries

Topics

Choose a topic to revise

Sample objectives

What this unit covers

• Oceans as a resource: Students should be able to describe the various resources that oceans provide, including food, chemicals, construction materials, wave and tidal energy, tourism opportunities, transportation, and the potential for safe drinking water.
• World fisheries: Students should be able to: • summarize where significant ocean currents are located • recognize the locations of key cold and warm ocean currents (specific names are not necessary) • clarify how major marine fish populations are distributed • shallow water populations on continental shelves • the influence of cold and warm ocean currents • outline the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and its impacts on fisheries along the Pacific coast of South America
• Impact of exploitation of the oceans: Students should be able to outline and clarify the consequences of ocean exploitation, including the overfishing of marine species, the impact on both target and bycatch species, and how the farming of marine species helps to lessen the pressure on fisheries.
• Management of the harvesting of marine species: Understand and assess the management techniques for harvesting marine species, including strategies such as net types and mesh sizes, species-specific methods like pole and line fishing, quotas, closed seasons, protected areas, conservation laws, and international agreements. Analyze case studies on the potential, exploitation, impact, and management of marine fisheries, as well as examples of marine species farming, focusing on food sources, waste pollution, and effects on natural habitats.