Fishing as Part of Bostons Economy - Research Paper Example

 Oceans and Coasts Abstract Traditionally, the human needs have been used as the criterion for the development of various industrial and economic activities; however, these needs tend to be interpreted differently in accordance with the social and cultural characteristics of a specific region. Serving these needs is usually set as a priority for governments worldwide; appropriate schemes and policies are likely to be developed taking into consideration the resources and the technology available; the environmental conditions and the geographic characteristics of each particular region have a critical role in the success of these initiatives – when the materials or the products available are not adequate, then appropriate policies need to be developed for their import. Fishing is an activity of critical importance for economies worldwide; apart from serving the local needs in food, fishing is often used for the support of the local or the national economy – in accordance with the terms of the relevant agreements. However, fishing can adversely affect the environment especially when it is excessive, leading to the limitation of various species within a specific sea zone. Current paper focuses on the effects of fishing on species in coasts around Boston; it has been proved that the lack of effective monitoring of the particular activity has led to the decrease in the population of oceanic species in the specific area – a common problem in oceans worldwide; the examination of this problem’s various aspects has led to the assumption that there are still chances for the limitation of the above phenomenon but only under the terms that appropriate measures are taken; the monitoring of these initiatives by the local authorities is a prerequisite for the success of the relevant projects. The study of similar practices adopted by governments worldwide – for handling this problem – would help to avoid severe mistakes and failures when developing the above plans. 1. Introduction Fishing is part of Boston’s economy; the specific activity is the source of living for a lot of people in the greater Boston region; however, the practices of fishing are not always appropriately controlled - as a result the population of oceanic species in coasts around Boston is continuously decreased. In accordance with a report published in City Data (2010) the economy of Boston is heavily based on ‘high technology, finance, professional and business services, defense, and educational and medical institutions’ (City Data, 2010). However, fishing is an important part of Boston’s economy – it is estimated that ‘more than two million pounds of fish are caught in the waters in and around Boston each year, making fishing, food processing, and food storage prime industries’ (City Data, 2010); as a result of its performance in the fishing sector, Boston is considered as one of most important fishing ports across USA. The events of September the 11th have negatively affected the economy of Boston – as of most cities in USA. However, gradually, Boston managed to achieve a stable and continuous economic growth; the problems that periodically appear in the various financial and industrial activities developed across the specific region are handled by the local authorities – a recent meeting has been held on the 21st of March between ‘the nation’s oceans chief and the local politicians and representatives of the Massachusetts fishing industry as new federal fishing regulations loom’ (Boston Herald, 21 March 2010). Current study focuses on the examination of the effects of fishing on the population of oceanic species in coasts around Boston; a series of additional issues, like the effects of fishing on the marine ecosystem in general and the role of fishing in the Boston economy are also going to be explored and analyzed. Reference will be also made to the fishing methods used in coasts around Boston – as identified through the research on the existing literature but also through the empirical research – survey conducted for this study. Appropriate schemes and policies are also going to be suggested aiming to reduce the negative effects of fishing on the oceanic species in the particular region. This study’s issue can be characterized as particularly important for the following reasons: a) fishing is a significant part of Boston economy; it has also an important role in the economic development of numerous others regions across USA; b) this study is expected to offer the necessary information for the development of appropriate policies for the protection of marine ecosystems in Boston and in other coastal regions, c) through the issues presented and analyzed in this study assumptions can be made regarding the potential increase of the state support towards the specific sector. 2. Methods The effects of fishing on the limitation of the population of oceanic species in coasts around Boston have been identified through the research on two different sources: existing literature has been carefully studied – in order to retrieve the information available on the issue under discussion while statistics published by governmental and non-governmental organizations have been critically examined and analyzed – supporting the development of credible assumptions on this study’s issues. These two types of resources are presented below in separate sections in order to be more easily understood and compared. The above part of the research methodology – the secondary research – is differentiated from the primary research, i.e. the empirical research on the issue under discussion. The primary research is based on a survey conducted among fishermen in Boston – a total of 45 fishermen have accepted to participate in the survey. A questionnaire including 10 questions and suggested answers has been used – participants have been asked to choose the answer that best reflects their view on the issue under discussion. The questionnaire has been distributed hand-by-hand and was returned in the same way; the Boston harbor has been chosen as a place for identifying the participants for the specific survey. The results of the primary research are critically discussed using the views of the literature and the statistics published by governmental and non-governmental organizations. 2a. Literature The effects of fishing on species are generally characterized as direct and indirect; in the study developed by the National Research Council (U.S.) the effects of fishing on species have been examined using two methods: the observation and the experiment; moreover, two specific fishing practices have been studied: trawling and dredging. It has been revealed that the direct effects of these practices on the species are the following ones: ‘loss of erect and sessile epifauna, smoothing of sedimentary bedforms, reduction of bottom roughness and removal of taxa that produce structure while trawl gear can crush, bury or expose marine flora and fauna and reduce structural diversity’ (National Research Council, 2002, p.20). Towards the same direction, Hassan et al. (2005) note that fishing can be characterized as ‘one of the major direct anthropogenic forces that has an impact on the structure, function and biodiversity of the oceans today’ (Hasssan et al., 2005, p.489). In any case, it seems that the effects of fishing on a specific marine ecosystem are highly depended on the ‘structure, the sensitivity and the diversity of the seabed’ (Kennelly, 2007, p.173) – a view similar with that of Doeringer et al. (1986) who noted that fishing practices can be differentiated in accordance with ‘changes in the demand for specific species’ (Doeringer et al., 1986, p.19) – this means that the effects of fishing on a marine ecosystem can be depended on the public’s demands for species of a particular category – the excessive demand for specific species can lead to the limitation even the extinction of these species – like in the cases of red cod and tuna. In this context, Sinclair et al. (2003, p.255) note that fisheries can be regarded as a method of fishing more friendly to the marine ecosystems but only under the terms that all necessary measures are taken for the protection of surrounding marine environment. 3. Empirical Research - Presentation and analysis of results The empirical research conducted for this study led to the assumption that most of the fishermen in Boston understand the consequences of fishing for the oceanic species; however, it is also revealed that the lack of effective governmental policies is more critical for the protection of the area’s marine ecosystem than the fishing practices used by professional and amateur fishermen in the coasts surrounding Boston. A high percentage (31%) of the fishermen participated in the survey answered that they have been engaged in fishing for more than 10 years – an indication of the importance of the specific sector for the local population. Another indication of this type is the fact that most of the participants (58%) answered that fishing is the primary source of their living. Fishing net has been found to be the most popular method of fishing in the specific region – preferred by 42% of the participants; however, when being asked on the methods of fishing generally used in the coasts surrounding Boston the participants highlighted the following methods of fishing: fishing net (38%), rod fishing (28%) and trawling (25%); dredging which can cause damages to the ecosystem seems to be avoided in the specific region – used by only 12% of the participants. At the next level, most of the participants (55%) consider that extensive fishing does not threaten the oceanic species of the coasts surrounding Boston; this response probably results from their belief that there are others – more critical – factors that can lead to the limitation or the extinction of certain oceanic species in the particular region; indeed, a relatively high percentage of the participants (38%) think that pollution caused by ships can threaten the oceanic species in coasts around Boston – the pollution from mainland is considered a severe threat of this type in accordance with the responses of 32% of the participants – the view that fishing can have such an outcome – i.e. cause the limitation of the population of oceanic species in coasts of Boston – was expressed by just the 14% of the participants. A high percentage of the participants try to avoid harming the oceanic species during the fishing following strictly the relevant rules of local and federal authorities (58%) – only the 22% of the participants states that avoiding excessive fishing is the best way to protect the oceanic species in the relevant area. It should be noted that a specific problem has been revealed through the survey conducted for this study: even if fishing is characterized as an important part of the Boston’s economy – as noted by 52% of the participants - the role of the state to the protection of oceanic species in coasts surrounding Boston is quite limited – in accordance with 66% of the participants. In accordance with the participants the state should take measures for the protection of the oceanic species – the introduction of strict rules regarding the disposal of industrial and residential waste is characterized as the most appropriate measure of this type – as noted by the 52% of the participants. 4. Conclusions Fishing has been proved to be a threat for the oceanic species in coasts surrounding Boston; however, it is not expected to lead to severe harms over these species – at least compared with other activities, like the pollution of the marine ecosystem that can result to various negative effects on local species – diseases and even death are common effects of excessive pollution of sea (Sindermann, 1996, p.35). As noted in the study of Sletcher (2004, p.11) the importance of marine ecosystems for the economies of coastal regions cannot be denied; however, measures need to be taken ensuring that the oceanic species are adequately protected. In Boston, fishing has been proved to be an activity of primary importance – fishing has been also proved to be the main source of living for a significant percentage of the participants in this study’s survey. Fishing has been also related with the area’s history (Kales, 2007, p.18) – benefiting the area’s economy both directly and indirectly. However, it has been proved that the measures taken for the protection of oceanic species in coasts surrounding Boston are not adequate – the responsibility of the state has been proved to be high; on the other hand, locals seem to be willing to participate in any scheme that would help to the increase of protection provided to the oceanic species in coasts of Boston. Literature Cited Congress Office of Technology Assessment, 1987. Wastes in marine environments - United States. Congress. Doeringer, P., Moss, P., Terkla, D., 1986. The New England fishing economy: jobs, income, and kinship. University of Massachusetts Press Hassan, R., Scholes, R., Ash, N., 2005. Ecosystems and human well-being: current state and trends: findings of the Condition and Trends Working Group of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Island Press Kales, D., 2007. The Boston Harbor Islands: A History of an Urban Wilderness. The History Press Kennelly, S., 2007. By-catch reduction in the world's fisheries, Volume 7. Springer National Research Council (U.S.), 2002. Effects of trawling and dredging on seafloor habitat. National Academies Press National Research Council (U.S) 1999. Science for decisionmaking: coastal and marine geology at the U.S. Geological Survey. National Academies Press Playfair, S., 2005. Vanishing Species: Saving The Fish, Sacrificing The Fisherman. UPNE Sinclair, M., Valdimarsson, G., 2003. Responsible fisheries in the marine ecosystem. CABI Publishing Series Sindermann, C., 1996. Ocean pollution: effects on living resources and humans. CRC Press Sletcher, M., 2004. New England - The Greenwood encyclopedia of American regional cultures. Greenwood Publishing Group Smith, D., 1994. Scaling fisheries: the science of measuring the effects of fishing, 1855-1955. Cambridge University Press Online sources Boston Herald, 21 March 2010, [internet], available at http://bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1241359 [last accessed at 30/3/2010] City Data, 2010, Boston, [internet], available at http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-Northeast/Boston-Economy.html [last accessed at 30/3/2010] Department of Fish & Game, 2010, Commissioner’s Office, [internet], available at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/com/index.htm [last accessed at 30/3/2010] Greenfacts, 2010. Scientific Facts on Fisheries, [internet], available at http://www.greenfacts.org/en/fisheries/index.htm [last accessed at 30/3/2010] National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration, 2010, [internet], available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ [last accessed at 30/3/2010] The Global Education Project, 2010. Fishing and Aquaculture, [internet], available at http://www.theglobaleducationproject.org/earth/fisheries-and-aquaculture.php [last accessed at 30/3/2010] The Boston Harbor Association, 2010, [internet], available at http://www.tbha.org/programs_workingport.htm [last accessed at 30/3/2010] Questionnaire 1. How long have you being fishing in coasts around Boston? A. Less than a year 18% B. Less than 5 years 23% C. Less than 10 years 28% D. More than 10 years 31% 2. Which method of fishing do you prefer? A. Trawling 21% B. Rod fishing 25% C. Dredging 12% D. Fishing net 42% 3. Which method of fishing is likely to be used by fishermen fishing in the specific region? A. Trawling 25% B. Rod fishing 28% C. Dredging 9% D. Fishing net 38% 4. Is fishing your primary source of living? A. Yes 58% B. No 42% 5. Do you think that extensive fishing threatens the ocean species in the specific area? A. Yes 55% B. No 45% 6. Which is the most severe threat for oceanic species in coasts around Boston? A. The pollution from ships 38% B. The pollution from the mainland 32% C. The fishing 14% D. The environmental changes 16% 7. Which measures do you take in order to avoid harming the fish stock? A. I avoid excessive fishing 22% B. I avoid fishing species that are prohibited by the relevant rules 58% C. I avoid polluting the sea while fishing 20% 8. Do you think that the role of the state to the protection of fish stock in the particular area is effective? A. Yes 34% B. No 66% 9. Which is the role of fishing in the development of Boston economy? A. Very important 52% B. Important 37% C. Not particular 11% 10. Which policy would be most effective to reduce the negative effects of fishing on the oceanic species in coasts around Boston? A. More strict rules on ship navigation – pollution 42% B. More strict rules on sea pollution by industrial – residential waste 52% C. More strict rules on fishing 6% Research Proposal - The effects of fishing on the limitation of oceanic species in coasts around Boston 1. Research Hypothesis The excessive fishing in coasts around Boston has led to the limitation of oceanic species in the particular zone. The lack of effective mechanisms for the control of the fishing practices used in the specific area is expected to lead to further reduction of this region’s fish stock in the future. 2. Aims and objectives This study’s aims and objectives can be described as follows: a) identification of the role of fishing in the Boston’s economy, b) explanation of the different types of fishing and their effects on the marine ecosystems, c) identification of the fishing methods used in the specific area – i.e. coasts around Boston, d) identification and explanation of the effects of fishing on the population of oceanic species in coasts around Boston and e) presentation of plans that would help to reduce the negative effects of fishing on the oceanic species in the particular region. 3. Research Methodology The research methodology used in this study can be categorized as follows: a) the secondary research includes the research on existing literature and statistics published on the study’s main issue. The primary research involves in the identification of the views of local fishermen on the issue under discussion – 45 fishermen have accepted to participate in the survey conducted for this study. The results of the primary research are discussed using the material presented in the literature review part of the study. Read More