World Without Fish

In this chapter, Kurlansky outlines four strategies that could be used to tackle the problems stemming from overfishing. The first solution is fish farming. Fish farming has been used at various points throughout history (there is evidence that the ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Hebrews, and Romans all learned to cultivate fish), but it comes with an array of problems. It does nothing to save wild fish at sea because farmed fish are often fed pellets made from wild fish caught by massive net draggers and because they threaten the wild fish’s evolutionary survival. All animals adapt to their environment, and being bred in captivity means farmed fish swim less (resulting in lower muscle mass) and deal with none of the threats faced by their wild counterparts. Thus, farmed fish may look different from wild ones and lose their survival instincts. These farmed fish could harm wild populations if the groups were integrated, either on purpose or by accident.

The second solution is telling fishermen to catch less. Like the first solution, this solution is not as simple as it seems. First, it requires an established system of rules and enforcement. Regulations are complicated because each species and fishing ground is different, and the rules would require constant changes as populations fluctuate. On top of this, calculating fish populations is difficult and prone to error. Another issue with this solution is that fish die quickly once removed from the water, so if a fisherman realizes they’ve gone over their quota and discards the fish, they’re wasting fish rather than saving any. Kurlansky estimates that millions of pounds of dead fish are thrown overboard every year because of these kinds of laws. By-catch (species other than the intended target that end up in the net) is another problem for the quota system. By-catch is nearly impossible to avoid, so requiring fishermen to throw it away would be wasteful. Fishermen may exploit loopholes by bringing in bigger by-catch hauls than their intended targets or labeling some of their main catch as by-catch to circumvent quota limits.

A third solution and alternative to quotas is limiting fishermen’s time at sea. However, time limits can be particularly devastating to fishing communities when it prevents fishermen from working. It also leads to imbalances among fishermen because the limits are generally counted by the day—meaning they can spend a certain number of days at sea—so the boats and fishing gear designed to stay at sea for weeks at a time can quite easily manage 15-hour days, while others cannot. Time limits also encourage fishermen to stay closer to shore (so they spend less time traveling), which means fishing in a more concentrated area and depleting local fish populations.

The final solution is temporarily closing areas where fish populations are at risk. This system requires rotating fishing through multiple areas (more than just two) so that each can recover and avoid extensive damage. This strategy is generally successful, and fish populations tend to recover when left alone for years at a time. The problem is that there isn’t a definitive amount of time to ensure recovery, and if populations are severely depleted, they may not recover. Rotating fishing grounds is the most promising approach of the four. Still, it relies on human calculations (such as defining the areas and when to close and re-open them), which have been historically faulty.

In “The Story of Kram and Ailat: Part 8,” years later, Kram and Ailat walk along a deserted beach as they discuss the ocean turning orange. Kram explains that plankton are orange, and all the fish that typically eat them have disappeared. Serafino has stopped fishing, but his sons are not catching krill. At the local restaurant, the daily special is krill salad.

Most problems with modern fishing stem from equipment and technology that are too efficient. The issue here, Kurlansky argues, is that once technology is invented and adopted, people do not want to let it go. Bottom draggers are the worst culprit; wherever they have gone, depleted fish populations and disrupted ecosystems have followed. Since their introduction, they have been met with resistance over concerns that they are too powerful. While they have never been banned outright, they have, on occasion, been subjected to regulations (on the net, engine, and vessel size). However, restrictions are not enough, and Kurlansky raises the question of whether engine-powered ships should be banned since overfishing can ultimately be traced to their introduction.

Safety, though, is also a concern. Fishing is still one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, but it is significantly less dangerous than when ships were powered by wind. Thus, any regulations on fishing equipment and technology must also consider safety. Kurlansky advocates that the market is the best place to combat bottom dragging. Consumers prefer fish caught on a hook and line because they are less damaged and of higher quality, so they can fetch a higher price. If fishermen can make the same money selling fewer fish, hook-and-line fishing could be the answer. The other benefit to hook-and-line fishing is that it requires far less regulation, so fishermen aren’t told what to do.

In “The Story of Kram and Ailat: Part 9,” Ailat has grown up and become an ocean scientist like her father. The whales have now died off, too, and Ailat searches maps with Kram, trying to find a coral reef that is still alive. They suspect the Kingman Reef is still alive because it is 1000 miles from land. Ailat begins to study the reef, which is surrounded by blue water and lots of fish. She resolves to protect the reef.