Population growth, increased tourism and overfishing

At least 60% of the worlds 200 most commercially valuable species are overfished or
fished to the limit (Williams).
Earth's population currently numbers 7.1 billion... And growing (Naylor)
This number will double by the middle of the next century with most of the increase in the
developing countries (Naylor)
Tourism in Florida

Florida is dependent on the tourism sector

Growing in popularity from year to year
Record number of tourists in 2013 with 94.7 million visitors (Gov. Rick Scott)
o This is a 3.5% increase from 2012 (Gov. Rick Scott)
o In 2012 the number of tourists was 91.5 million (Gov. Rick Scott)

U.S Bureau of Census

Benefits of tourism

Creates jobs
o Travel-related jobs in 2013 equaled 1,088,200 (Gov. Rick Scott)
Increase of 20.9% from 2012 (Gov. Rick Scott)
o Every 85 visitors equals one job (Gov. Rick Scott)
o Fishing, boating, diving and dining are all sectors that rely and benefit from
increased numbers in tourists
Revenue for the state

o Tourism and recreation taxable sales for Florida increased every month year-overyear from January through November 2013 (Gov. Rick Scott)
5.9% increase from 2012 during the same time period (Gov. Rick
Scott)

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-01-02/news/sfl-new-yorks-population-larger-than-floridas-20140102_1_chan-lowepopulation-tops

This cartoon also depicts the increase number of Northerners moving to Florida. This also adds
to the revenue generated for the state, as well as an increase for jobs to help serve the increasing
population.
Although an increase in tourism has many positive effects, it also has many negative effects.
Drawbacks of tourism

Increased pollution- air and traffic

Increased crime
Overfishing
o Increased fishing license sales
More stress on the wildlife
Increase demand for places to live/stay

o Increased infrastructure
o Ruins environment and forces wildlife to move
How this all effects fishing
With an increase in population, increasing number of tourists, overfishing already being a
problem, the issue of overfishing will only continue to worsen as more people are moving to,
visiting to and being born in coastal areas. The quote, present fishing policy is unsustainable.
The food-web structure is changing proves that changes must be put into place in order to
protect fish and the oceans ecosystem around the world (Williams).

The world is ever changing, and laws must keep up with the changes, like growing populations,
that lead to more demand for fish, and more people fishing. Complete fishing bans currently
apply to less than 1% of the worlds fishing grounds, but experts say the findings of this new
study indicate that more such protected areas must be created if there is to be any chance of
salvaging vanishing ecosystems (Williams). Laws implemented must be able to keep up, as well
as provide protection for fish populations in the future if there is any hope at saving the oceans
from being fished to the limits. Every fish is effected by another species extinction or reduction
in population.

Marine fish provide 15% of all animal protein consumed by humans global fisheries
are collapsing (human population)
In 2009, 80% of fish stocks were fully exploited, overexploited, or collapsed (human
population)
A catch reduction of 20% to 50% is needed to make global fisheries sustainable
(human population)
The demand for fish is expected to increase by 35 million tons by 20130 (human
population)

o This is due to increased consumption and demand of fish, as well as a rapidly

increasing human population (human population)
90% of the worlds large predatory fish are in decline (human population)

In the United States

Catch of Atlantic Bluefin tuna plummeted by 99% from 1963 to 2006 (human
population)
Atlantic Cod declined by 89% from 1980 to 2006 (human population)
Black Grouper declined by 82% (human population)

Of the 21 marine species known to have been driven extinct in the past 300 years, 16
disappeared since 1972 (human population). Increase in human population has an
astounding effect on the extinction rates of fish populations. As the human population continues
to grow, fish populations will continue to decline. Not only are fish effected by overfishing, other
marine mammals are killed or thrown away due to commercial fishing bycatch (human
population). Bycatch is a species that is caught unintentionally during commercial fishing
while targeting another species. 20 million tons of birds, fish, marine mammals, and sea turtles
are accidentally caught in fishing nets, longlines, and drift-gillnets each year (human
population). Hammerhead shark populations in the Northeast Atlantic has seen a reduction of
89% in recent decades from byctach alone (human population). Hundreds and thousands of
sea turtles are caught from bycatch. Six of seven species of sea turtles are endangered, three of
which are critically endangered (human population).

Works Cited
"Gov. Rick Scott: Another Record Year for Florida Tourism." Florida Governor Rick Scott.
N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. <http://www.flgov.com/gov-rick-scott-another-record-yearfor-florida-tourism-2/>.

"Human Population Growth AND OCEANS." Human Population Growth and Oceans. N.p., n.d.
Web. 14 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/oceans/>.

Naylor, R., and P. Matson (1993), Environmental impact of population growth, Eos Trans.
AGU,74(15), 178179, doi:10.1029/93EO00254.

Williams, Nigel. "MARINE ECOLOGY: Overfishing Disrupts Entire Ecosystems.

"Science 279.5352 (1998): 809. Web. 14 Oct. 2014
<http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.lib.usf.edu/stable/2895014>.