The Problem With Modern Fishing
In The Problem With Modern Fishing, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how technology has made commercial fishing a large-scale operation. The result: overfishing, fewer fish in the oceans, and sometimes the collapse of specific types of fish. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Horizon: The Death of the Oceans, which reveals what scientists are learning about what is happening in the oceans and whether it is too late to save their remarkable diversity.
Lesson Express
Q: How has technology impacted fishing?
A: Technology has made it easier for people to track down and catch fish on a large scale.
Q: What did scientists discover about what has happened to top predators? What is the prediction for the future?
A: Since the 1950s, 90% of top predators have been fished from the sea. It is predicted that if commercial fishing continues at this pace, fishing will collapse by 2050.
Q: What surprised you from this video?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may talk about how fast the commercial fishing industry may deplete fish resources or how advanced technology is.
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