Ocean Alert!

It may seem as if the world’s oceans are so vast that nothing could hurt them. Unfortunately, that’s not true. The oceans suffer from people dumping stuff that they don’t want (pollution) and taking too much from the ocean that they do want (overfishing). You can help turn this problem around.

You probably already know how to help fight pollution: Participate in stream, river, and beach cleanups; don’t litter; and don’t dump things into storm drains. But you may not realize that too many fish–including the bluefin tuna (pictured)–are being taken from the sea. Some overfished species are disappearing–such as sharks.

People kill 100 million sharks every year. The desire for shark fin
soup is one big reason so many sharks die. These fish are caught, their
fins are cut off to be sold and the rest of their bodies are thrown
back into the sea.

Many fish are slow growing, and live decades or even centuries. Orange roughies can live to be more than 100 years old. Rockfish can live to 200! And Chilean seabass live 40 years. Where there aren’t enough of these slow growing fish, it threatens the species because the fish are often taken from the sea before they are old enough to reproduce. These species could disappear.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Guide to Sustainable Seafood Choices

Get more Facts on Fish.

By Enric Sala, Marine Ecologist, National Geographic Fellow
Photograph from Index Stock Imagery/ Photolibrary
National Geographic Kids magazine, August 2009

Comments

Tree Hugger
August 2, 2009, 10:46 am

Whenever I go to the beach, I always pick up litter out of the water and out of the sand. Some people these days just don’t understand how important it is to preserve our Earth. Our world is in a crisis. Because of overfishing, some of the most unique species are being destroyed. And because of pollution, birds, fish, and other animals get sick and die. After a while, it leads to endangerment.Because of cars and factories and other things, we’ve caused global warming. People can start saving Earth’s species and Earth itself. Our world is waiting. Let’s help.
Parry Hotter
August 6, 2009, 1:17 pm

It’s so sad that people just carelessly dump things into the ocean. This summer I went to the beach and I noticed something I had never noticed before, there was trash everywhere! Think of it this way: People are dumping things in the ocean and killing fish. Now think of it flip flopped. Fish are dumping things in the ocean and killing humans. I know that sounds silly but the point is we are living creatures and we share one earth. You must stop doing this- YOU ARE KILLING LIVING CREATURES. Think that over. Think what you’re doing to the fish. The earth. Think about what you’re doing to yourself.
Matilda
August 17, 2009, 6:32 am

I’m from Japan. I like sushi. But I think we need smaller nets and to not overfish. We shouldn’t throw away fish and sharks, because we can use them. Its a waste.
PurpleAnimalLUV
September 17, 2009, 5:21 pm

I find it really disgusting the way people just dump unwanted things into oceans and rivers, litter on the sides of highways, and ugh some things so gross I can’t continue. I totally agree with what Tree Hugger, Parry Hotter, and Matilda. Go Green! Save our planet!
Tree Hugger
September 27, 2009, 8:12 am

I agree with everyone.Overfishing is wrong and cruel. We need to make some organization or club to help our Earth: BEACH CLEANUPS, PROTESTING, ETC. This would be a great way to interact and learn more about how each and every kid in the world can make a difference. None of us are too young, but none of us can do it alone.
familylover803
October 15, 2009, 12:13 pm

That is one big fish!!!!
room16
November 21, 2010, 3:27 pm

the oceans are clearly in really really big trouble because of all of the rubbish, oil and people are over fishing and taking away all of the fish.they are taking all the little baby fish before they have growen and reproudced.peole are trowing all their rubbish and the fish are dieing because of it.if all the good beachs are filled with rubbish they will not be goodbeachs and all of the marine life will be dead.most of them will also go to other bays and seas.in new zealand we are lucky we still have lots and lots of fish but in other places there are nearly none.WE NEED TO LOOK AFTER OUR OCEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
room16
November 28, 2010, 3:33 pm

It is so sad that all of those fish are dieing and people are over fishing it is just wrong.please look after our oceans it soo important!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
room16
November 28, 2010, 3:58 pm

OUR OCEANS ARE OBVIOUSLY IN DANGER.
people are overfishing and taking way too much fish its ridiculous.
we think that it is completely utterly disgusting when you are walking along the beach,river or creek and there is all this brown sludge and wrappers,packaging and plastic cups.
its atrocious that some people think that this is okay? IT IS NOT. we need to look after our oceans and keep them clean.if this carries on,our whole world will turn into a slimy,brown ball. it may start not to even look like a planet any more.
room16
November 28, 2010, 4:08 pm

stop polluting bacause your killing our sealife by 2020 will have no sealife and some sealife is get distict so stop polluting
animal lover27
January 8, 2011, 11:10 am

I thInk people should stop over fishing and killing animals all together. It is cruel. I’m a vegetarian exept for chicken and I’m perfectly happy and healthy. Why can’t more people be more like me.
winners27
April 24, 2012, 3:04 am

People should really stop that!They could use smaller nets like Matilda said.And people should stop throwing chemicals in the water.Just imaging the world without some of it’s animals is just sad,and to me and probably other kids are scared and mad when we imagine this.I know I do.
markz2009
September 26, 2012, 6:54 pm

people must stop killing sharks
markz2009
October 2, 2012, 7:13 pm

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