Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A. Knowledge
learn the causes and impacts of overfishing
learn the measures to reduce overfishing
learn the measures taken in Hong Kong to protect fishery resources
B. Skills, values and attitude
show concern for the protection of fishery resources in the world and in Hong Kong
develop a sense of responsibility towards conservation of ocean resources
C. Case study
Overfishing in the North Sea
D. Concept map
Growing demand Advanced fishing
for seafood technology
Marine ecosystem Causes
Sustainable fisheries
Oceans Problems Overfishing
Marine Protected Areas
and seas Education
Importance Impacts Solutions Hong Kong’s efforts
Banning destructive
fishing practices
Natural Human
beings
Controlling fishing
environment Environmental Socio‐economic activities
Destruction of habitats Unemployment Creating artificial reefs
Decrease in biodiversity Malnutrition Education
Fishing down the food Conflicts
chain
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My boat is equipped
with radar. I can locate
the fish easily.
However, the fish
catches in recent years
have been decreasing.
a. Name the problem shown in the photo.
Overfishing
b. When does this problem occur?
Overfishing occurs when the fish are caught at a rate faster than they can reproduce.
c. In which region(s) is this problem most serious?
North Sea Caribbean Sea
Mediterranean Sea Nan Hai
d. What are the causes for this problem?
There is a growing demand for seafood around the world due to population growth and
increasing income of people.
The development of advanced fishing technology has increased the fish catch significantly.
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3.2 What are the impacts of overfishing on the marine ecosystem?
Refer to p. 30‐31 in textbook
Study the news clip on the right.
The practice of blast fishing
is destructive not only to
a. What is blast fishing?
the target species, but also
It is a kind of fishing method
to reefs and the entire
that uses explosives to catch
ecosystem.
fish.
b. Why is it a destructive fishing method?
Blast fishing kills many non‐target species at the same time, resulting in a large amount of
bycatch. They also damage the coral reefs, which are important habitats of many marine life.
c. Identify other destructive fishing methods (i to iii) shown in the figures below.
i. Bottom trawling ii. Gill netting iii. Purse seining
d. How does overfishing affect the biodiversity and the balance of the marine ecosystem?
Overfishing causes certain species to decline in numbers. Some are at the edge of
extinction and the biodiversity may reduce.
The stocks of large fish at the top of the food chain deplete. Fishermen are forced to fish
down the food chain and the balance of the ecosystem may collapse.
3.3 What are the socio‐economic impacts of overfishing?
Refer to p. 32‐33 in textbook
Study the story below.
Cod is the most commercially However, the catches declined As a result, more than 40
important fish in the Barents Sea to 20% of their highest levels in 000 people in northwest Russia
in the northern coasts of Norway the 1990s due to overfishing. lost their jobs in the fisheries
and Russia. sector.
a. What are the impacts of overfishing to the fishermen in the Barents Sea?
They suffer from income loss and even become unemployed.
b. What may the fishermen do in order to increase their fish catches?
The fishermen may travel to further places to fish.
c. What problem may this cause?
The fishermen may enter the waters of other countries and disputes may arise.
d. The figure below shows a family in Zambia. How may overfishing affect them?
Seafood is our main source of
protein. Overfishing reduces our
nutrient intake and we may suffer
from malnutrition.
A family in Zambia
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i. Only catch mature / large ii. Stop using fishing nets with iii. Stop fishing for a period
fish small mesh during the year
We won’t catch
more than allowed.
iv. Adopt a trawling ban v. Reduce the number of vi. Catch only the quantity
fishing boats allocated
a. Identify the measures (i to vi) shown in the figures.
b. How can the above measures increase fish stocks?
They allow fish populations to grow and help replenish stocks.
They reduce bycatch and helps maintain biodiversity.
They reduce the damage to the seabed and protect marine habitats such as coral reefs.
c. Group the measures into the following categories:
Better fishing practices: i, ii, iv, v
Fishing ban: iii
Catch share programme: vi
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d.
The government of country X can stop
overfishing by setting up marine
protected areas (MPAs) and education
Green group member
(i) How do MPAs help conserve fishery resources?
MPAs are conservation areas that fishing is restricted or is only allowed seasonally. This
allows fish stocks to replenish for sustainable production. The biodiversity of fishery
resources can be maintained.
(ii) What can the government do to educate the people to conserve fishery resources?
The government should provide training programmes for fishermen to help them
learn different sustainable fishery practices.
It should also educate the fishermen and the public about the rising threats of
overfishing and the impacts it has caused.
e. Refer to the photo below. What have the non‐governmental organisations (NGOs) done to stop
overfishing?
Some NGOs have set up a certification
system to allow consumers identify
sustainable fish products.
They have also produced seafood guide
for consumers.
Overfishing in the North Sea Refer to p. 38‐39 in textbook
The figure below shows the total catch of North Sea cod since the early 1960s.
1. Why is the North Sea a rich fishing ground?
The North Sea benefits from the warm water brought by the North Atlantic Drift, which prevents
it from freezing in winter.
2. Describe the trend of cod production during the following periods.
Early 1960s to 1980: It increased in general and peaked in 1980.
Since 1980s: It decreased rapidly from the peak of 400 000 tons / year to 50 000 tons / year
between 1980 and 2014.
3. What are the impacts of overfishing in the North Sea?
Environmental There is a decline in fish stock. The fish are caught at a younger age and
impact smaller size. Some species such as the North Sea cod are in the danger of
extinction.
Jellyfish has reproduced quickly since their predators, cod, has decreased
largely in numbers. The food chain and the balance of the ecosystem are
seriously disturbed.
Economic The fishing industry suffers large economic loss due to reduced fish catch.
impact Many people have become unemployed.
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4. What have the countries around the North Sea done to stop overfishing in the region? List
THREE measures.
Reduce the fishing quotas of cod / use fishing nets of larger mesh size / restrict the size of fish
that can be caught / implement a fishing ban / limit the number of fishing boats in the region
(Any 3)
3.5 How does Hong Kong conserve local fishery resources?
Refer to p. 40‐41 in textbook
Complete the table below to describe the measures taken by the Hong Kong government to protect
fishery resources.
Measure Description Purpose
a. Ban destructive Fishing methods such as bottom To protect marine
fishing trawling, use of toxic substances and habitats
practices explosives are not allowed To restore the fish stocks
b. Control fishing Limit the registration of new local To reduce the intensity of
activities in fishing vessels fishing activities in local
local waters Prohibit non‐local vessels to fish in waters
Hong Kong To increase fish stocks
Plan to set up Fisheries Protection
Areas in Port Shelter and Tolo
Channel
c. Create artificial Sink rocks, tyres and abandoned ships To increase fish
reefs to the seabed populations and
biodiversity
d. Education Provide training and guidelines for To help fishermen adopt
fishermen sustainable fisheries,
Set up the Fisheries Education Centre aquaculture and
recreational fishing
To raise the public
awareness of marine
conservation
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Geographical Terms and Glossaries
Distribution and causes of overfishing
Overfishing 過度捕魚 Global Positioning System 全球定位系統
(GPS)
Overexploited 過度開採 Radar 雷達
Environmental and socio‐economic impacts of overfishing
Bottom trawling 拖網捕魚 Bycatch 混獲
Self‐review tool Refer to p. 42‐45 in textbook
Part 1 Multiple Choice (7)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
A D C D D A D
Part 2 Data response question (15)
1. a. Bluefin tuna Salmon Cod
‐71.8% 86% 91%
b. Overfishing / Over‐exploitation of fishery resources
2. X is a radar that can detect the location of fish and helps increase the fish catch
Y is a large fishing net that can maximise the volume of fish catch
Fish are caught at a rate faster than they can reproduce / fish stocks reduced and fish
catch dropped significantly
3. Unemployment due to the collapse of fisheries and related industries / malnutrition in less
developed countries where people rely on fish for protein / competition for limited fish stocks
or fishing areas may cause conflicts (Any 2)
4. a. Fishing is banned for a certain period of a year / more time for fish stocks to replenish
b. Set up catch shares / individual fisherman or groups share the allowable catch quota
Set up more marine protection areas (MPAs) / conservation areas that fishing is
restricted or only allowed seasonally
Adopt sustainable fishery practices / increase the mesh size of the fishing net / ban
destructive fishing methods such as bottom trawling / fishermen are allowed to
catch big fish only (Any 2)
What is sustainable fishery? Describe the benefits it brings.
Step Brainstorm and write down any glossary that comes to your mind about the question.
Stable supply of seafood Maintains biodiversity
Benefits of
Socio‐economic Environmental
sustainable
benefits benefits
fishery
Describe the First, sustainable fishery ensures a sufficient and stable supply of seafood
socio-economic for people. It also provides a sustainable income for fishermen and people
benefits that
working in related industries. Moreover, sustainable fishery helps maintain
sustainable fishery
brings. a steady supply of fish protein for less developed countries and prevents
the worsening of malnutrition.