Knowledge and Understandings:

• Demand for aquatic food resources continues to increase as human population grows and diet changes. 

• Photosynthesis by phytoplankton supports a highly diverse range of food webs. 

• Aquatic (freshwater and marine) flora and fauna are harvested by humans. 

• The highest rates of productivity are found near coastlines or in shallow seas, where upwellings and nutrient enrichment of surface waters occurs. 

• Harvesting some species, such as seals and whales, can be controversial. Ethical issues arise over biorights, rights of indigenous cultures and international conservation legislation. 

• Developments in fishing equipment and changes to fishing methods have lead to dwindling fish stocks and damage to habitats. 

• Unsustainable exploitation of aquatic systems can be mitigated at a variety of levels (international, national, local and individual) through policy, legislation and changes in consumer behaviour. 

• Aquaculture has grown to provide additional food resources and support economic development and is expected to continue to rise. 

• Issues around aquaculture include: loss of habitats, pollution (with feed, antifouling agents, antibiotics and other medicines added to fish pens), spread of diseases and escaped species (some involving genetically modified organisms). 

Application and Skills:

• Discuss, with reference to a case study, the controversial harvesting of a named species. 

• Evaluate strategies that can be used to avoid unsustainable fishing.

• Explain the potential value of aquaculture for providing food for future generations. 

• Discuss a case study that demonstrates the impact of aquaculture 

International-mindedness:

• Successful management of marine and some freshwater fisheries requires partnership between different nations. 

Theory of Knowledge:

• The Inuit people have an historical tradition of whaling—to what extent does our culture determine or shape our ethical judgments?