Embedded Files
Significant ideas:
Aquatic systems provide a source of food production.
Unsustainable use of aquatic ecosystems can lead to environmental degradation and collapse of wild fisheries.
Aquaculture provides potential for increased food production.
Knowledge and Understanding
Knowledge and Understanding
Demand for aquatic food resources continues to increase as human population grows and diet changes.
Photosynthesis by phytoplankton supports a highly diverse range of food webs.
Aquatic (freshwater and marine) flora and fauna are harvested by humans.
The highest rates of productivity are found near coastlines or in shallow seas, where upwellings and nutrient enrichment of surface waters occurs.
Harvesting some species, such as seals and whales, can be controversial. Ethical issues arise over biorights, rights of indigenous cultures and international conservation legislation.
Developments in fishing equipment and changes to fishing methods have led to dwindling fish stocks and damage to habitats.
Unsustainable exploitation of aquatic systems can be mitigated at a variety of levels (international, national, local and individual) through policy, legislation and changes in consumer behaviour.
Aquaculture has grown to provide additional food resources and support economic development and is expected to continue to rise.
Issues around aquaculture include: loss of habitats, pollution (with feed, antifouling agents, antibiotics and other medicines added to fish pens), spread of diseases and escaped species (some involving genetically modified organisms).
Discuss, with reference to a case study, the controversial harvesting of a named species.
Evaluate strategies that can be used to avoid unsustainable fishing
Explain the potential value of aquaculture for providing food for future generations.
Discuss a case study that demonstrates the impact of aquaculture.
Extension Resources
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