Will the Ocean Ever Run Out of Fish?
Articles/Websites
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Social Studies, Biology
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by TED-Ed
What it is
- This resource describes the current state of fish populations in the oceans and the industrial fishing practices that have lead to the critical state of fish stocks globally.
- A discussion of how other animals (such as dolphins, turtles, and seabirds) are caught in nets and the solutions to limit overfishing are included.
- The video is accompanied by self-check questions, an article with links to more information, and discussion questions.
Teaching tips
Positives
- Animations effectively visualize the variety of industrial fishing practices that threaten global fish populations.
- The video suggests creating more marine reserves, banning harmful fishing practices, enforcing current laws, and consumer education as solutions.
Additional Prerequisites
- Teachers and students must create an account and log in to engage with the self-check questions and for commenting in the "Discuss" portion of the site.
- A few of the linked resources in the "Dig Deeper" portion are broken, but the majority are active and useful.
Differentiation
- Before watching the video, consider leading a discussion about the environmental impacts of human food choices. Ask questions to determine if your students understand how fish and other meat products are produced at a large scale.
- Ask students if they can propose additional solutions to help combat the overfishing problem. Could they participate in "Meatless Mondays?" Are there similar concerns for aquaculture? Are there certifications they could look for as consumers?
- Additional related resources are Food and Farming and Why It Matters: Gone Fishing.
From the scientist review
This TED-Ed talk addresses if we will ever run out of fish in the ocean. As human population continues to increase, the demand for seafood will increase with it, and many fish species are already overfished. This resource is recommended for teaching.
How we review resourcesReady to use it?
Hosted on ed.ted.com
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
