WEEK 8 - CO - EXIST BRIEF 2

LIVE BELOW WATER

Overexploitation of Fishing Resources :

Led to the extinction of the species. Overfishing of species with long life cycles at the top of food chains, like sharks and tuna, or species used for luxury cooking and alternative medicine also cause irreversible changes in the harmony of marine life. Unsustainable fishing methods refers to the utilization of the various fishing methods in order to capture or harvest fish, at a rate which sees the declining of fish populations over time. 50 to 100 million sharks are killed each year, either as bycatch from fishing vessels or directly hunted for their dorsal fins, used in an expensive soup popular across Asia. Finned sharks are thrown back into the water, often still alive and left to bleed to death. Sharks reproduce fairly slowly and don’t have a large amount of offspring. Sharks are predators and their predator status also helps regulate the numbers of other species. Other species lower on the food chain start to overpopulate their habitat, creating a destructive downward spiral of the ecosystem.

Reducing overhunting / shark finning

Stop:

Stop eating shark fin soup

Stop or reduce eating big fishes such as tuna, marlin and sharks

Contribute:

• Educate everyone/target audience by producing posters and campaigns/ programs about implications of shark finning

• Boycotting restaurants that sell shark fin soup

• Join and support organisations working towards more sustainable oceans (follow social media accounts to keep up with what’s happening to the ocean)

• Join and create shark sanctuaries to better help and protect the sharks Increase the selling price of the overhunted fish so consumers will buy less of it

• Buy seafood that has the Marine Stewardship Council sustainable seafood seal of approval.

• Use seafood guides such as the Seachoice and Seafood Watch pocket guides (app)

Target Audience

• Young adults - Starting campaigns and selling merch (money earned goes towards organizations that fights overhunting/shark finning) Create social media account to promote the merch and spread awareness Put up posters around campus and hand out leaflets to educate

• Seafood lovers - Merchandise that educate them on what is sustainable fish (fish that is not overexploited) Convenient such as tote bag so when they go shopping they can refer Constant reminder