A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World

I chose the keep back turn in A aliveness of the Fish That Changed the World. As the title suggests, and the author, Mark Kurlansky, explores, a simple search, more specific tout ensemble in ally, take to task, has an importance that has been proven end-to-end history. The prologue is set in Petty Harbour, a town in Newfoundland and tells a story of third experienced tipermen, Sam, Leonard, and Bernard.They are participating in the Sentinel Fishery which was an attempt to help scientists and fishermen work together to beat the supply of depend on. Their boat was to catch as earthly c at oncerny jaw as they could and measure and tag them. A cooperate boat was to catch exactly 100 mobilize and open them to identify their age and sex. For three men who fishing was their life hobby, you would think this would be an enjoy fitted job, but in actuality, it was a resolve of the Canadian government shutting down groundfishing in order to control fishing operations as to preser ve the quantity and life of the cod.The book unfolds in three parts and each part has octuple chapters. Part One, entitled A Fish Tale, begins by describing the Vikings as the first known fishermen of cod. The Vikings ability to go bad long distances and discover new places was due to their skill in air drying the cod. This form of curing fish preserved the cod and allowed them a forage source that did not spoil quickly.Furthermore, the Basques, who were a mysterious group, were able to maintain their independence because they had a strong economy which was a result of adding salting to the airing fulfill as a essence to preserve the cod. This allowed them to travel long distances, monopolize on catching cod on their secret waters and in addition, were able to heavily trade cod. This section also negotiation about different arenas arguing over access to different waters, the attempt to regulate trade and explorers claiming land. mount was the common item that resulted in the hostility among these topics.The book goes into great detail of how North America was explored by multiple Europeans. The rise and fall of power by the French, the English and the Germans are discussed, as well up as slavery, wars, trade, and taxation. All of this important history is linked to the codfish. The catching, the selling, the trading, and the monopolizing of waters all contributed to the development of the colonies, and because of this fish, the book suggests cod was the fish that changed the world.This section also covers details about the actual fish including how cod live, how they reproduce, and what they eat. Cod are not strong, nor fast and swim with their mouth open. Consequently, they can be caught without bait because they swallow anything that fits in their mouth, including jiggers and they dont raise up a fight with the fisherman. They are great sources of protein, especially when dried, and there is no waste on the fish. at that place are ten families of cod and include over 200 species.The Atlantic cod is the most favourite and produces the highest financial return as well as the greatest status amongst fishermen. Part Two, Limits, focuses on deuce subjects. First, it discusses the dangers of fishing for cod. It elaborates on the terrible conditions including cold temperatures, fog, currents, wish of sleep and equipment injuries. It is said that more fishermen have been missed at sea than men died in the wars.These deaths are a result of boats getting lost at sea, sinking, and men falling or being swept off the boats. These fishermen take the risk because fishing means economic survival. Secondly, this section of the book presents the conflicting theories of biologists between overfishing and the natural resource of cod being invincible. Those fearing the depletion of cod suggest it is because of better techniques (longlining and gillnetting), increasing technology (chronometer, telegraphy, and freezing) and modernization of boa ts (engine and steam-powered and motor ships) and equipment (sonar and spotter aircraft).As a result, nations began to claim their coastal waters which started at three miles and by 1975, later three cod wars, was expand to 200-mile limits.Part Three, The Last Hunters, outlines quotas and moratoriums implemented in the later history in order to seek the prevention of cod depletion. As a result, fishermen and fishing communities paid the price. One aspect of Canadas moratorium developed a monitoring course which brings the book full circle to the prologue where Sam and his friends were working as part of the Sentinel Fishery.From governments to fishermen and all the scientists and councils in between, everyone has their own opinion on whether or not the cod leave replenish themselves to a come that will allow economic gains. The reality is that costs were greater than revenue and as a result, overfishing became a complex global problem that hale fishermen to find other jobs. As a result, fishing communities drastically changed.One of the books arguments is that of nature being infinitely endless versus the pattern of overfishing depleting the cod transmit. The topic of conservation, or lack of, can be paralleled to these conflicting concepts. As outlined in this assignment, conservation is defined as the perplexity of a resource or system to sustain its productivity over time. In this case, I will address the conservation of cod and how the supply was managed, or mismanaged, end-to-end history up until the time this book was first published in 1997. As the books title just states, cod has changed the world.More complexly, it allowed for a food source and financial stability throughout most of history. I would conclude that the majority of the 1800s, conservation wasnt considered necessary. The undischarged philosopher, Thomas Henry Huxley, was on multiple fishing commissions, spoke internationally, and persuaded government bodies that it was not poss ible to overfish for cod. contempt what fishermen had thought, Huxley proclaimed that cod will always reproduce at a faster rate than caught.It wasnt until after his death that the British government admitted that overfishing was indeed occurring. This was in 1902 and was the first the book mentions the concern, which remained a focus throughout the 1900s and the rest of the book. It wasnt until 1949 that the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries was organized to begin addressing ways to regulate the maturation fishing effort.This is the first conservation was considered on a global level. Several examples of conservation unfolded throughout the following(a) 50 years. Setting limits and waters were not always agreed upon throughout various nations, but all began to recognize the problem. The Magnuson Fisheries Conservation and Management Act in 1976 developed the 200-mile conservation zone. The goal was to eliminate orthogonal fishing, reduce overfishing , and allow the cod stock to replenish.The European Union Common Fishing Policy was put in place in the 1970s as well. The policy outlined very specific quotas per boat, species, area and time frame. It was in 1992, that the Canadian government established a moratorium that shut down groundfishing along the eastbound coast. One component of the moratorium was the development of Newfoundlands Sentinel Fishery which I referenced earlier. These types of programs were implemented to monitor the cod stock.Here in the US in 1994, the National Marine Fishery Services reacted to their findings that the cod stock was rapidly declining. Further conservation measures were seen in the restricted come in of days that vessels were allowed to groundfish. The original 139-day restriction was accordingly lowered to 88 days within two years based on the fact that total continued to decline. Furthermore, the monitoring systems were an attempt to sustain the cod for future generations.In this parti cular case, I rule conservation and sustainability go hand and hand. In an attempt to sustain the cod, the controversial idea of fish cultivation is discussed. Fish farming is when cod are enclosed in an area and fed to fatten them up. Maybe, in theory, this seems to be a solution, but scientists suggest that farming comes with consequences. Because of how the cod are farmed, they are often futile to adapt when they are released inshore for spawning.Although conservation wasnt a concern in the first half of the book, the second half discussed limits as a means for conservation. Examples of limiting areas of fishing, limiting numbers of fish caught and limiting the number of days allowed to fish were evident but also challenged as maybe a little as well late forthcoming.The second topic I would like to discuss is that of a hazard. As outlined in this assignment, a hazard is defined as an object, condition, or process that threatens individuals and society in terms of output signa l or reproduction. I would like to suggest that the process of overfishing is a hazard that this book unfolds throughout history. Overfishing is simply when cod are caught at a faster rate than they can naturally reproduce.The author suggests that man is part of the natural world and the two cant separate themselves, and in this case, the activity of overfishing is driven by man. Cod provided a source of protein and a financial stability to many nations. As populations increased, the demand for cod increased, and consequently, the industry became competitive in nature. Because of this, fishing for the Atlantic cod became commercialized, and although nations modernized at different speeds, the goal for all was to catch more.As early as 1815, the French used the technique of longlining. Although it was dear(predicate) because of the amount of bait that was used, it was the first advancement from handlining and allowed for numerous fish to be caught at once. From there, bottom draggin g became popular and although it was an rough-and-ready method of catching a lot of cod at once, it was also damaging to other fish that got caught in the net. In addition to improved techniques, curing methods advanced and freezing methods were developed.Technology advancements included the chronometer and telegraph which both improved navigation, and sonors and spotter aircraft aided in spotting cod schools. Fishing boats advanced from oars and sails to steam-powered to motorships. All of these advancements aided in the overfishing and consequently became a hazard. Scientists argue that you cant predict nature and there is no way to tell if and when, as well as, how long it will take to replenish the cod stock. For this reason, I suggest overfishing to be a hazard.The depletion of cod has ramifications on todays society. Fishing communities have suffered as fishermen have been displaced and forced to find other work, and the economy of these towns do not have the same stability a s they once did. In addition, cod was a nutritional food source and my guess is that is will become an expensive delicacy. Cod was a constant thread throughout history, and its importance is indisputable.This book provided me with knowledge of the species, as well as how this simple fish connected nations across the northwest region. Conservation attempts were outlined after the concept of overfishing was identified as a concern. The hazard of man overfishing was proven as history unfolded and technological advancements developed. In addition to all the great detail this book provided about cod, the fish that changed the world, the tales, recipes, and pictures brought life to the subject.