George Abariotis - Shipping, Fishing and the Environment (THURS)

Shipping and fishing are two of the world’s most ancient and lucrative industries. It brings people and commodities together from the corners of the world fostering communication, trade, and even economic booms. These industries are globally established with ports in every continent and sea routes crisscrossing the map. However, their adverse environmental effects are vast. The World Wildlife Fund identifies a few ways ways in which shipping pollutes and degrades the environment: oil spills from shipwrecks, the release of bilge oil (oil and water from the ships holds) as well as other chemicals needed for the maintenance of ships, introduction of invasive species carried by ballast water (seawater carried by a ship in order to maintain a certain weight when it’s not carrying cargo). However, the impact of fishing on the environment is by far larger. Over fishing, bycatch, and destructive yet profitable fishing practices such as bottom trawling and the use of explosives have destroyed marine habitats and rendered some species such as the North Atlantic Cod nearly extinct. The ocean which provides oxygen, food, and jobs is exploited for the sake of profit in an unsustainable way. However, these industries must continue to exist because of their beneficial qualities. This paper will examine what different schools of thought (such as Utilitarianism, Social Contract Theory, Biocentrism etc .) recommend for dealing with this issue and how they relate to the goals and policies of organizations such as Greenpeace, the International Maritime Organization, and WWF.