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To: Physicist
In fact, I believe that the ocean fisheries can one day be more abundant than they were in the wild state.

I'd like to believe so too. But I have very little knowledge of this subject. Could you explain how you think the ocean fisheries can become so abundant?

206 posted on 02/18/2002 1:38:46 PM PST by Snuffington
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To: Snuffington
I'd like to believe so too. But I have very little knowledge of this subject. Could you explain how you think the ocean fisheries can become so abundant?

OK, just this one thing. Then I REALLY have to go, to work on my global warming webpage. :-)

There are many ways to make oceans more productive. Large areas of the oceans (particularly the southern oceans, near the Antartic) have deficits of iron. Traces of iron are needed to make algae bloom more efficiently. (Of course, algae growth can be overdone, resulting in algal blooms!) These areas of the ocean have (properly) been called "deserts of the sea." There is far less life in these areas.

Also, in the Gulf of Mexico, various states (Mississippi? Alabama?) are now letting people sink their own artificial reefs (some out of garbage, like tires and other junk). These artificial reefs, just like natural reefs, really boost fish populations. (A problem is that most people want to "hide" their reefs, because other people will come steal the fish.)

As I wrote before, the oceans are really suprisingly unproductive, at least for us humans. (Oceans cover 2/3rds of the planet, but only provide about 1% of our food. Which is a real shame, because fish are a tremendously nutritious food.)

212 posted on 02/18/2002 2:03:15 PM PST by Mark Bahner
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