Christian Saravia
Walruses are some of the most important marine animals and they play a vital role in the health of the arctic and subarctic ecosystems. They are foraging predators who rely heavily on the diverse creatures of the ocean floor. Walruses feed primarily on benthic invertebrates such as clams and mussels. Unfortunately, unsustainable fishing practices disturb the natural balance of the food chain, but there are sustainable fishing practices that can help walruses by not depleting essential prey species that they rely on. In this blog post, I will explore the connection between sustainable fisheries and the walrus food chain. By understanding the relationship between walruses and sustainable fishing practices, we can highlight the importance of preserving the ocean’s biodiversity and ensuring the health of these creatures.
Walruses are tied to the health of their environment because they play an essential role in the food chain. They feed mainly on benthic invertebrates, such as clams, mussels, and other shellfish found on the ocean floor. Walruses use their whiskers, known as vibrissae, to find these invertebrates beneath the sediment. Some of the walrus’s predators include orcas and polar bears but these encounters are rare and usually depend on environmental conditions like sea ice availability. Walrus calves are much more vulnerable to predators than adults are, which is why the mother of the calf must protect her young and ensure survival. Walruses also play a vital role in nutrient cycling. They do this by moving around the sediment when they forage for prey which helps to redistribute nutrients and helps other organisms in the benthic ecosystem. This action is important when it comes to maintaining a stable food chain to ensure the health of the environment.
Sustainable fishing practices are one way to ensure that fish populations can continue to thrive and minimize environmental damage. Selective fishing techniques can help to minimize capturing specific animals like juvenile fish or sea turtles, which helps to ensure biodiversity and prevent overfishing. Some of the devices used when practicing selective fishing are circle hooks or bycatch-reduction devices in trawl nets. Marine Protected Areas also help to provide a safe place for marine life by allowing them to regenerate and breed. These areas increase fish populations which support both fisheries and conservation efforts. Putting limits on catching certain species of fish can prevent overfishing by regulating the amount of fish that can be captured, which helps keep the fish populations at a stable level.
The connection between the walrus food chain and sustainable fisheries highlights the balance necessary to maintain marine ecosystems. The dependence that walruses have on benthic organisms such as clams, snails, and other invertebrates means that fisheries should focus on not depleting the ecosystems in which these benthic organisms thrive. Certain unsustainable fishing practices such as bottom trawling can disturb their habitats and deplete the prey that walruses rely on. Overharvesting fish species that play a role in maintaining nutrient cycles can also impact benthic organisms which would harm walrus populations due to their inability to find food sources. By adopting sustainable fishing practices such as catch limits, habitat protection zones, and gear modifications that reduce bycatch, ecological balance can be achieved. This would help preserve healthy walrus populations. Preserving healthy walrus populations will help to maintain the food web by keeping the benthic populations at healthy levels. Sustainable fisheries and walrus conservation rely on each other, it is a symbiotic relationship that fosters biodiversity and supports nutrient cycling and healthy benthic habitats.
In conclusion, walruses’ survival and the health of arctic and subarctic ecosystems are interconnected with sustainable fishing practices. By protecting benthic ecosystems and practicing fishing methods that can minimize environmental impact, we can help walruses continue to have access to the prey they rely on. Selective fishing, marine protected areas, and catch limits benefit walrus populations as well as promote biodiversity and nutrient cycling. Recognizing the symbiotic relationship between walrus conservation and sustainable fishing practices highlights the importance of conservation efforts that work to preserve walruses and their habitats. It is not only an ecological responsibility to aid in the protection of walruses but also a huge step towards promoting biodiversity in the oceans.
Citations
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Jennings, S., & Kaiser, M. J. (n.d.). The Effects of Fishing on Marine Ecosystems. ScienceDirect. Retrieved December 7, 2024, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0065288108602126?via%3Dihub
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. (n.d.). Bottom trawling Effects on benthic Habitats Action Plan Summary. In Nms Sanctuaries. Retrieved December 7, 2024, from https://nmssanctuaries.blob.core.windows.net/sanctuaries-prod/media/archive/jointplan/fact/mb/bottomtrawlingeffects.pdf
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