When a moratorium was placed on the Atlantic Cod in the 1990’s, thousands of canadian fishermen lost their jobs, livelihoods and cultures. Some of these fiserman had had fishing running in their families for over five hundred years, and in essence the moratorium destroyed the lives of thousands of honest citizens7. This is the type of thing that is keeping the ocean from being fished at a sustainable rate. In many parts of the Eastern side of Canada, almost every family was in some way involved with the Cod industry. Whether they worked in a packaging plant or their families breadwinner was a fisherman, there were entire communities dedicated to harvesting and distribution of Atlantic Cod. For many of them it was a source of identity as well, and a source of great economic investment7. The downfall of these towns and these peoples way of life is yet another example of the Tragedy of the Commons.
the atlantic cod moratorium
Why the oceans are still being overfished
An incredible amount of economic pressure lies on the ocean. Not only have government subsidies and the efficiency of the fishing conglomerates spoiled consumers with low prices and high variety, but there are entire economies and societies that rely on the sea13. In many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia, fish make up over 50% of the protein in their diets13. The economic devastation that occurs when fishing is banned in some parts of the world, even in the sake of sustainability, can be devastating.
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Pictured above; Four generations of Canadian fishermen that were forced to give up their livelihoods as a reult of the moratorium.