Bycatch, the unintended capture of animals in commercial fishing gear, is a hot topic in marine conservation today. The surprisingly high level of bycatch about 25% of the entire global catch is responsible for the decline of hundreds of thousands of dolphins, whales, porpoises, seabirds and sea turtles each year. Through this curricular unit, students analyze the significance of bycatch in the global ecosystem and propose solutions to help reduce bycatch. They become familiar with current attempts to reduce the fishing mortality of these animals. Through the associated activities, the challenges faced today are reinforced and students are stimulated to brainstorm about possible engineering designs or policy changes that could reduce the magnitude of bycatch.
- Subject:
- Applied Science
- Ecology
- Engineering
- Life Science
- Material Type:
- Full Course
- Provider:
- TeachEngineering
- Provider Set:
- TeachEngineering
- Author:
- Amy Whitt
- Matt Nusnbaum
- Vicki Thayer
- Date Added:
- 10/14/2015