Education version 2.0

The world is not big. We are small.
There is presently a huge ocean crisis. Since the ocean is tremendously important in processes such as carbon dioxide absorption and in regulating temperature and climate (add information from other groups), an oceanic catastrophe would produce far more severe problems than a shortage of fish. Caring about the ocean is not just for environmentalists, but for those who care about the future health of the planet we depend on.

Causes of the oceanic crisis
Humans and national economies certainly depend on fish but now that, due to overfishing, pollution add introduction of invasive species, we need to decrease our consumption of fish.

Who's problem is it?
Fish are an essential piece of the marine ecosystem. As fish populations are being depleted, the ocean's biodiversity and even the water salinity have started changing (add information from other groups). This extensive and intricate problem cannot just be solved by the use of laws to diminish fishing. Businesses and every day people need to be aware of the vastness of the problem and modify their habits. In fact, every one of us needs to understand not just our role in the depletion of fish, but now what is more important- our role in helping to solve the problem. We realize that it is unfeasible to completely take away fish as a form of nutrition, so other than cutting back on your consumption of unsustainably caught fish, here are some other things you can do. (link to what YOU can do page)

National Power
As limiting the allowable catch of fisheries will inevitably hurt the economy (at least in the short run), countries need to find incentives to implement fish-limiting policies. When proposing treaties, the UN has to be able to convince nations that, in the long term, this will kill the tragedy of the commons-in-happening. More international trust can be gathered by formation of an international body responsible for gathering scientific data and routing it to the different governments. This can be achieved by allowing scientific and policy representatives from different countries to work together and by allowing access and review of data by professionals from any interested country. We also need to make governments understand how much it is important to save the oceans, irrespective of immediate costs, to prevent a global oceanic catastrophe.

Money rules
A decrease in food consumption is necessary if we want to save the oceans and will inevitably cause companies to suffer. To ease this crisis- or even to prevent it- government may provide subsidies encouraging the companies to fish and trade sustainable fish. Training could also be offered by government bodies and NGOs to help diversification to other fields such as marine reserves. We also need to make companies understand that fishing more and more will only cause further damage. By educating them through workshops and competitions (such as those NOAA? is doing right now), companies need to understand that a drastic change will only help them become more efficient and, in the long run, more competitive.

We make the difference.
People need to understand that there is a big problem with the ocean and that, in the end, it is their tiny daily efforts and change in attitudes which will help prevent a natural disaster. The problem we have right now is not only about fish, or even the ocean but is all about the way we have been ruining Mother Nature by recklessly overexploiting it. The most efficient methods to reach out to people are, but is not limited to: movies, news corporation advertisements, books and school programs teaching children the value of the environment. It's also about convincing people how the earth's resources are not absolute and will end up one day -  in fact very soon if we don't change our habits. And we are convinced that, in fact, only day-to-day actions by every one of us are the key to the solutions. Replacing fish one week by tofu, not buying sushi just for the glamour of it, switching off the lights is what is going to save the world. And people need to understand that the future of the planet is in their hands, as much as how it is easy for them to save it.

 The Population Crisis
In 1999 the world's population reached 6 billion, and has been growing at increasingly large rates ever since (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 1999). As the population grows, our natural resources become more and more strained. The number of mouths to feed is growing exponentially. Because of this there is an ever increasing demand for fish, as well as possible alternatives to fish. In certain developing countries, the population is increasing so rapidly that controlling it would have as large effect as anything on fisheries. This is a very difficult task, especially in cultures where the natality rate is ultimately a reflection of tradition or culture. For this reason we advocate the creation and extension of programs to educate people in these developing countries about family planning and contraception. The specifics of such campaigns are outside the scope of this project, but they are relevent because the population growth rate will effect fisheries in the future.

 UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (1999). The World at Six Billion. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/sixbillion/sixbillion.htm.