Research paper-- Saving The Swordfish

The swordfish is “a kind of the biggest and the fastest fish in the ocean” (Schwardz, Grossman-Garber & Milliken, 1993, p. 1337). It is an important marine resource. Also, it is endangered. “In 1997, the North Atlantic swordfish was on its way to being wiped out, the victim of years of overfishing and mismanagement” (NRDC, n.d, para. 1). People know that is a serious problem the extinction of the swordfish. So, humans who want to save the swordfish have done many things. For instance, there was an official department that made a decision that they would manage the number and the size of the swordfish that were caught by fishermen in the United States (Schwartz, 1993.). And, there are two conservation groups that want restaurants to stop serving the swordfish (Hallowell, 2001). According to these ways, they hope the populations can be restored in ten years (Hallowell, 2001). However, these ways are not enough to save the swordfish.

The result of saving the swordfish is too little. We should find out some ways which are really useful. What we need is the long term plan. We can save the swordfish for a long time with these plans. There are some ways that we have to start to save the swordfish. To change the dining habits, to educate public and set policies is very important.

First, we should change people’s dining habits. People have eaten the swordfish for a long time. It is hard to change the habits of people, especially their dining habit. People like to eat the swordfish steaks in the United States. There are many people of the world who are used to eating the swordfish. In addition, restaurants prefer the smaller swordfish because it is better size for a plate (Gosline, 2004). The size and the quality of the swordfish are good to be served in the restaurants. However, the young swordfish is not big enough to breed. As a result, the population of the swordfish has become smaller. Consequently, we should not eat the swordfish. We must use other fishes to replace the swordfish. For example, many years ago the tuna was also under the pressure of fishing. But the restaurants and the government successfully changed people’s dining habits. If we stop eating the swordfish, the pressure of fishing will be decreased. The population of the swordfish can be restored in ten years (Hallowell, 2001).

Second, we should work on education. People will change their thought to save the swordfish if they are given the right education. So, the first step is that people should know more about the swordfish because knowledge is the basic condition to change someone’s standpoint. There are many restaurants that put the introduction and profile of the swordfish on the guide when they stop serving the swordfish. It is a good activity that can explain why they don’t serve the swordfish. Then, the customer can understand the plight of the swordfish (Hallowell, 2001). In addition, we should teach our children something about environmental protection. Because of the early education, they can receive the thought more easily. After they grow up, they will know the importance of environmental protection (Yala, 2003). Actually, people do something stupid because of their illiteracy. “In the 1960s, fishermen adopted a more devastating technique called long-lining, which makes catching swordfish cheaper and quicker” (Hallowell, 2001, para.5). That way not only catches many swordfish at one time but also gets other marine animals (Schwartz, 1993.). It will harm the marine resources. So, we should tell the fishermen these influences could affect that less fish survival in the future. They will not get the swordfish any more. If the fishermen can change their mind to use a way that can decrease the damage to the marine resources, we can get the sustainable resources from the ocean.

Third, the government must set the policies in the right direction. The government is the leader to lead the public to do right things. For example, “The Commerce Department has followed through with a key fishery management element of President Clinton’s plan for the ocean environment” (NOAA, 1999, para. 2). If the president notices the subject, the department of the government will work on it harder. By this way, the department such as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will set laws to manage these problems. Recently, the department made a decision to ban export and import of the swordfish that are less than 33 pounds (NOAA, 1999, para. 5). They could control the number of the swordfish that are caught or imported (NOAA, 1999). Also, the government and the private groups can establish an alliance with which they can get better suggestions to protect the swordfish. One example is “an unusual alliance between two environmental organizations, the Natural Resources Defense Council and SeaWeb, and some of the nation's finest chefs, led by Nora Pouillon, owner of the Nora and Asia Nora restaurants in Washington (Hallowell, 2001, para. 3).” Even this kind of huge group may have power to negotiate with other countries that do not want to reduce fishing the swordfish, for example, in the United Nation. The United Nations has meetings that talk about how to save migratory species. At this time, they talk about how to protect the swordfish. The agenda will become the policies in many countries and even the international laws (NOAA, 1999). It is the most useful way to save the swordfish because laws can be available to ban the proposal and control the population of the swordfish.

In conclusion, if we want to save the swordfish, we must integrate many areas that are mentored above, the education, policies and dining habits. We should tell people not to eat the small swordfish, also teach the fishermen not to over fish. The swordfish is a very important marine resource. It is also an important part of the ocean food chain. People over fishing the swordfish, which is not only making the species extinct but also could cause a threat to the ocean ecosystem. In the end, we will not be able to get enough food from the ocean. Consequently, humans should keep the balance of the ocean especially its ecosystem. If we want to get the sustainable marine resources, we have to start to save the swordfish. Then we should extend to other species and the whole ecosystem.

References

Gosline, A. (2004, Oct. 03). Simple change can save swordfish. New Scientist Environment. Retrieved on Oct 29, 2008 from http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn6455

Hallowell, C. (2001, Jun. 24). Save The Swordfish. Time. Retrieved on Oct. 22, 2008 from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,138439,00.html

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Commerce Department makes final import ban on small swordfish. NOAA NEWS. Retrieved on Oct. 29, 2008 from http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s137.htm

Natural Resources Defense Council. (2004, Sep. 29). North Atlantic swordfish. Issue: Wildlife. Retrieved on Oct. 29, 2008 from http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/fish/nswordbr.asp

Schwardz, M. Grossman-Garber, D, & Milliken, H. (1993). Swordfish. Sea Grant. Retrieved on Oct. 29, 2008 form http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/factsheets/swordfish.html

Wildlife Conservation Society. (n.d.). WCS helps save Atlantic sharks; Swordfish are next. Wildlife Conservation Society. Retrieved on Oct. 29, 2008 from http://www.wcs.org/353624/195651

Yala, K. (2003, Sep. 4). Children’s Environmental Education. Global Coral Reef Alliance. Retrieved on Oct.2, 2008 from http://www.globalcoral.org/Children's%20Environmental%20Education%20Program,%20Kuna%20Yala,%20Panama,%20Phase%20II.htm