Would Our Fish Disappear? - Overfishing in Trinidad and Tobago

What is overfishing?

Overfishing refers to the depletion of fish stocks faster than they can be replenished. Overfishing has become rampant in Trinidad and Tobago with a recent video circulating social media of fishermen in Mayaro pulling up scores of fish in a net. Not all fishing is bad, especially since fish makes up the main component of our Caribbean diet but the method of fishing is what can cause an issue. Bycatch is one of the main causative factors affecting overfishing. Bycatch refers to the unwanted fish caught while fishing, typically during net fishing.

Figure 1: Showing a huge haul of fish from the East Coast of Trinidad (TikTok 2021)

Why is this bad?

From the information above, we can see that net fishing can cause overfishing. Nets have holes that allow fish that are small enough, to free themselves through the holes while keeping the bigger, mature fish in the net. The problem with this arises when the nets being used have very small holes. This prevents juvenile fish and smaller fish species from escaping. When the nets are pulled in the fish that are considered undesirable due to their size are generally thrown away or possibly used as bait in other fishing ventures. When the juvenile and mature fish from a particular area are captured, it leaves no fish to reproduce and continue growing the population. Sadly, fish are not the only marine life affected. Sharks, turtles, and dolphins also fall prey to net fishing and diminish their population for no good reason. This habit can lead to the destabilization of Food Security in Trinidad and Tobago. Although we are islands, fish scarcity can become a problem in the near future if overfishing is not addressed. For example, the once infamous flying fish in Tobago is now rarely seen due to high demand and overfishing in the early 2000s.

Figure 2: Showing a turtle tangled in a fishing net in Trinidad (Widecast 2019)

What are some solutions to this problem?

There are many solutions one can employ to avoid contributing to the overfishing crisis.

Firstly, use traditional fishing methods, such as hook and line (particularly for fishermen who are only targeting specific species of fish). This will work to alleviate the issue of bycatch since unwanted fish can be returned to the water with only minor injuries which they can recover from quickly.

Figure 3: Showing fish caught by rod (Trini Tuner 2021)

Secondly, when employing net fishing, use nets with appropriately sized holes to allow small fish to escape therefore reducing overfishing. Nets also should not be left out in the water for extensive periods of time. This is essential since unwanted fish can be returned to the water before they are harmed.

Thirdly, implementation of legislation that only permits fish of a certain size to be caught. This law has been implemented around the world and has aided in the rejuvenation of many fish populations. This law will ensure that only mature fish are caught and could possibly applied to protect them during their breeding season. 

Figure 4: showing a fish being measured (Master Angler 2021)

Always remember that our goal is to be SUSTAINABLE. That can be achieved by fishing responsibly. Only take what you need.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Manatees in Trinidad and Tobago

Image
What are Manatees? Manatees, though they live in water, are classified as mammals because they come up to the surface every three to five minutes to get oxygen through their nostrils. In the Caribbean, we have the West Indian Manatee (Latin Name: Trichechus Manatus), also known as the ‘Sea Cow’. These gentle giants can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 1200 pounds. Their diet consists of seagrasses and small invertebrates, consuming up to 15% of their body weight in vegetation. It is believed that the lack of predators in Trinidad and Tobago allows our Manatees to live up to sixty (60) years. Figure 1: showing a manatee floating (WNW Press Release 2021) What is the Status of our Manatees? In Trinidad, the Nariva Swamp is the most well-known habitat for manatees. However, based on an evaluation by UNEP/CEP in 1995, they determined that the manatee population consisted of twenty-five (25) to thirty (30) individuals in total. At that time the trend was that the population was de...
Read more

Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin

Image
  Their Status: In Trinidad and Tobago there are a wide variety of mammals that live here unlike any other island. Our islands lie the closest to South America meaning that we have both continental and tropical species of flora and fauna. The White-fronted Capuchin is a monkey that can be found in many South American countries such as Venezuela (the closest South American country to Trinidad and Tobago), Columbia, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador as well as in Trinidad and Tobago. Each country has its own subset or variation in the species that makes it unique. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature 2008, the Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin was declared as a critically endangered species with a total population size of 61 mature individuals in Trinidad and Tobago. When a species is critically endangered it means that the population size is less than 250 mature individuals. Since being classified as a critically endangered species there has been no furth...
Read more

Deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago

Image
What is deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago? Deforestation is defined as the removal of trees from forested areas across the world. Locally, we have three main forested areas: the Northern range, Central Range in Trinidad, and the Main Ridge in Tobago. It is important to mention that South Trinidad is also largely forested especially in and around the Trinity Hills. These forested areas are constantly under attack by legal and illegal deforestation. Figure 1: showing deforestation in Trinidad (Loop News 2021) Deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago Firstly, not all deforestation is illegal. Companies that require space for infrastructural development can apply to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for approval on the project. The EMA can determine the impact that the project would cause on the environment based on the details of the venture. Lumber companies also need to apply for a license before they teardown trees from any area. However, a large portion of the trees ...
Read more