Effects of Fishing Restriction

The main purpose of laws that restrict fishing is to revive declining fish populations. These laws keep the species from extinction and also help conserve a natural resource. Setting catch limits helps prevent a species from becoming endangered. Shortening fish seasons allows the fish to grow without interference for a longer time.

Some evidence already shows that these regulations can aid in reviving declining fish populations. Many species have been helped by fishing limits. The striped bass population of the Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay had almost been wiped out when Congress ordered strict limits on its harvesting. A decade later, large numbers of striped bass now live in these areas and are available to recreational and commercial fishers, but they are still strictly regulated.

Other marine animals also benefit from government regulation. The banning of drift-nets protects whales and dolphins. Special nets used in the harvesting of shrimp have “turtle excluders,” or escape hatches, so that sea turtles and fish can swim out of the nets. These regulations also aim at preserving entire ecosystems, not just a few species of organisms in the ecosystem.

The major opposition to strict fishing regulations comes from the fishing industry. Some opponents doubt that making laws will solve the problem of declining fish populations, because more factors that overfishing are involved in the problem. Many commercial fishers invest large amounts of money in the boats and equipment used to harvest fish. If the fish season is greatly reduced, they must lay off workers. A controversial ban on cod fishing in Canada caused 20,000 Newfoundland workers to lose their jobs. If a large percentage of a town’s population is involved in the fishing industry, the resulting unemployment is likely to hurt the town’s economy.

When fishing seasons are reduced to very short spans of time, as in the case of the Pacific halibut, other problems arise. These short season force laborers to work around the clock at an extremely fast pace. Under these exhausting conditions, work-related accidents and injuries are more likely to occur. See “Deadliest Catch” on cable TV.

Overfishing alone is not entirely responsible for the declining populations of fish in fresh waters and in oceans. The building of dams can kill fish or prevent them from breeding. The loss of species’ habitat due to human activities affects populations of fish. These problems also need to be addressed. Consumers could broaden their tastes to include fish species with plentiful stocks, such as mackerel and Pollock. There might then be less demand for fish with less plentiful stocks.

1. 
   How do natural changes in fish populations affect overfishing?
   
2. 
   How do laws that regulate fishing protect fish populations?
   
3. 
   How does the 1993 federal law on fishing regulation differ from previous laws?
   
4. 
   What are the drawbacks to legislation limiting fish catches and establishing shorter fishing seasons?
   
5. 
   List four reasons why fish populations are declining in lakes, rivers, and oceans.
   

6. 
   Suppose you are a politician representing the interests of a small community whose economic health depends on the fishing industry. How would you approach the problem of the over-fishing or nearby species? Must write no less than eight sentences.
   
7. 
   Do you think federal laws regulating the fishing industry are necessary? Why or why not. Must write a minimum of six sentences.
   

read the background information, then answer the questions, include question in answer

Due May 1

Since the beginning of agriculture approximately 10,000 years ago, humans have had to compete with pests such as fungi, weeds, insects, birds and rodents. Not until the 1800’s did farmers begin to use pesticides---chemicals that kill these destructive organisms. The group of chemicals collectively called pesticides includes insecticides, which kill destructive insects and their larvae; fungicides, which kill fungi that infests crops; rodenticides, which kill rats and other rodent pests; and herbicides, which kill weeds and unwanted plants. For a long time pesticides were considered miraculous chemicals, not only for protecting crops and increasing crop yields but also for protecting humans from deadly diseases such a typhus and malaria that are spread by insects. The safety of pesticides in regard to humans and the environment went largely unquestioned until 1962, when a biologist named Rachel Carson published a book Silent Spring. In this book she warned that the overuse of pesticides could be dangerous to wildlife. Since then, the controversies have continued over the use of pesticides and their regulation by the United States government.

The development of pesticides has been closely connected to wartime research. Before World War II there were only 30 pesticides in use. Today, more than 50,000 kinds of pesticides and 1.8 billion kilograms (kg) of these chemicals are used worldwide each year. The insecticide DDT was originally created to protect soldiers from disease-transmitting flies and mosquitoes. The herbicide Agent Orange was invented to thin out the dense Vietnamese jungle during the Vietnam War. Other chemicals specifically designed to destroy enemies’ crops, thin jungles, or protect soldiers from insects later became widely used as pesticides.

The amount of pesticides that the average person is exposed to, either by eating produce treated with pesticides, by drinking contaminated water, or breathing chemically polluted air, is not usually enough to cause long-term effects. Those people who handle pesticides regularly are at a higher risk. Ninety percent of fungicides are suspected oncogens, or tumor-causing chemicals. The National Cancer Institute reported that farm workers exposed to herbicides had a six times greater chance of developing a particular type of cancer than did the general public. DDT and its family of pesticides are stable, fat-soluble chemicals that do not break down in the body. Instead they accumulate in fatty tissues, and over time may cause nausea, weakness in the muscles, and convulsions. Other pesticides are more biodegradable, but are nonetheless toxic. Some cause birth defects, genetic damage, and other reproductive problems, or may interfere with the functioning of the nervous or respiratory systems.

In some instances, the overuse of pesticides creates pest resistance. Repeated applications of the chemicals select for individual insects, weeds, and other pests that possess a natural resistance to the chemical. These pests multiply, creating a bigger pest problem requiring tougher pesticides (and more expensive research). Since pesticides also kill the insects’ natural predators as well as the pests, the pests often return in greater numbers than existed before the pesticides were used. Then stronger pesticides become necessary.

Pesticides may also cause permanent damage to ecosystems. Suppose a pesticide seeps into the soil and is taken up by a plant. If the chemical is not easily broken down, it will accumulate in the tissue of the plant. The chemical becomes event more concentrated when an animal eats a quantity of these contaminated plants. Animals at the top of the trophic levels become more concentrated in them. The endangerment of these species can then affect the balance of the entire ecosystem.

The regulation of pesticides in the United States was largely ineffective for many years. Initially laws were passed only to insure the pesticides were safe and effective. The laws required testing and registration of all the chemicals used in pesticides. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), however, has been slow to implement these rules. In 1992 a pesticide law was passed that focused on worker safety. Employers of farms, nurseries, and greenhouses are now required to train their employees on the use of safety equipment (such as gloves, goggles, and breathing masks) and the safe handling of pesticides. They must also provide their employees with access to emergency medical care and a place to wash off the pesticide if they come into direct contact with it. Once an area is sprayed with pesticides, signs must be posted to warn workers that it has been sprayed, and no one can be permitted to enter the area for 72 hours.

Some people argue that there are plenty of alternatives to using harmful pesticides and that the government should encourage their development. Biological control is one method. A pest’s natural predator species may be brought in to control the pest population. Predators might be insects, reptiles, amphibians, or birds. But this comes at a risk----with no natural predators, biology control species could overrun an ecosystem, causing another problem.

Other, non-biological methods can be used as alternatives to pesticides. Traps, screens, and electric “bug zappers” are options, but these affect beneficial insects along with the pests. Hormones can be used to interfere with the growth and development of either plant or insect pests. Growing companion species of plants, such as marigolds, garlic, and mint alongside crops repels some insects and worms.

Reasons for using chemical pesticides

The agricultural industry has little incentive to try new methods of pest control or to cut back on its use of pesticides. Sometimes less harmful alternatives are too expensive or are not available. The research involved in developing less harmful pesticides is time-consuming and expensive. Farmers are usually subsidized by the federal government or the chemical manufacturers for the use of chemical pesticides. Without some form of pest, their crop yields drop significantly. With other factors to contend with such as droughts and floods, farmers look to pesticides as one way of maintaining their productivity.

The cost of research of safety regulation also keeps pesticides in wide use. The assessment of health risks for pesticides is expensive and difficult, and there is disagreement over exactly how the pesticides should be tested. Laws restricting the use of pesticides are costly to the agricultural industry either because they require equipment and training related to using pesticides safely or because they lead to lower productivity. These effects add another burden to an already distressed industry. The added costs to farmers in turn affect markets and consumers. Ultimately the consumer pays a high price for produce.

Pesticides are a useful resource for agricultural and industrial societies. With an increasing population, food production will continue to be an important concern. If pesticides had been available to kill the parasitic fungus that completely wiped out the potato crop in Ireland in 1845, one million people might have been saved from starvation. When it comes to preventing future starvation, economic problems due to loss of crops, and epidemics caused by diseased-transmitting insects, pesticides serve an important purpose.

Questions:

1. 
   What are the health risks associated with the use of pesticides?
   
2. 
   Why did the development of pesticides occur during a time of war?
   
3. 
   According to the 1992 pesticide regulations, what must be provided to employees who handle harmful pesticides?
   
4. 
   What are some alternatives to using pesticides?
   
5. 
   Some pesticides banned in the United States are being used in other parts of the world, especially developing nations where starvation is a problem. Should there be a global ban on the use of pesticides? Why or why not?
   
6. 
   Some environmentalists and farm workers object to current regulations of pesticides because there is no guarantee of enforcement. How could these regulations be enforced? What penalties should be imposed to those who do not comply?
   
7. 
   Should state and local governments be able to further restrict the use of pesticides in their jurisdictions? Why or why not?
   

Mining inevitably disturbs land. Modern mines reclaim the surface during and after mining is completed, returning the land to useful purposes.  Go to the website below to discover information about a few of the many mined land reclamation success stories.

Go to:  http://www.mii.org/reclcoal.html

After you have researched a particular success story follow the rubric below to compelte the assignment:

1.  Success story selected (give name)

2.  Location of success story  (where)

3.  Explain what was mined and how that product is used.

4.  Explain in a minimum of three sentences what was done to reclaim the land that was disturbed and why the project was successful.

5.  Explain your opinion of the reclaimation project--in favor and why, not in favor and why.

Value:  80 points   Due date:  May 1

Today, more than 400 nuclear power plants operate around the Earth. Many places in the world depend on nuclear energy for power. France, for example, currently gets 60% of its energy from nuclear power. Worldwide, 6% of electrical power comes from nuclear energy. As humans continue to rely on this atomic invention, many questions about cost, safety, and waste disposal have emerged.

1. 
   When was the last nuclear power plant constructed in the USA?
   
2. 
   What is the nearest nuclear power plant to Goddard, KS?
   
3. 
   How much of our local electricity power from Westar Energy is from nuclear power?
   
4. 
   How much radioactive waste is produced by a typical nuclear power plant each year in the USA?
   
5. 
   How is radioactive waste disposed?
   
6. 
   What concerns do you have about the long-term containment of nuclear waste?
   
7. 
   What geographic and environmental conditions constitute a safe location for a nuclear power plant? List at least 4 geographic and 2 environmental conditions.
   
8. 
   In addition to nuclear power, what other human activities use radioactive material and generate radioactive wastes? Name at least two.
   
9. 
   What factors do you think contributed to nuclear power becoming a substantial energy source in the USA?
   
10. 
    Imagine you are part of a panel considering nuclear power in Kansas. There is great enthusiasm among your peers for developing nuclear energy. You have been asked to share your opinion. Write a speech that presents your point of view.