• Geography -> Climate and environment

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Is overfishing contributing to climate change, and if so, how?

Karyme Reuben

Yes, overfishing is contributing to climate change. But how does that happen? Well, when we overfish, we take too many fish from the ocean, and don't give them enough time to reproduce. This means that the number of fish in the ocean decreases.

Now, fish play an important role in our climate. They help to keep the carbon cycle in balance. You see, when fish eat plants, they take in carbon. When they get eaten by bigger predators, that carbon stays inside them. When the predators die or poop, that carbon goes back into the ocean. But when we overfish, we disrupt this cycle. There aren't enough fish to eat the plants and store the carbon. This makes the amount of carbon in the ocean increase, which contributes to climate change.

But that's not the only way overfishing contributes to climate change. Fishing boats use a lot of fuel to travel long distances and catch fish. This fuel is made from oil, and when it's burned, it releases lots of greenhouse gases into the air. Greenhouse gases are what cause climate change. So, overfishing leads to more fishing boats on the water, which means more fuel being burned, and more greenhouse gases being released into the air.

But don't worry, there are things we can do to help. We can choose to eat sustainable seafood, which means eating fish that have been caught in a way that doesn't harm the environment. We can also support laws and regulations that help to protect fish and their habitats. And, we can reduce our own carbon footprint by using less fossil fuels, like turning off the lights when we're not in the room, or walking or biking instead of driving.

So, to sum it up, overfishing is bad for fish and bad for our planet. But if we all make small changes in our own lives, we can help to protect the oceans and the world we live in.