Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
5) India can emulate innovative solutions from across the world to tackle the problem of ghost gear. Discuss. (250 words)
Why this question
Ghost fishing gear is a serious environmental hazard which poses risks to marine animals. India had recently mooted the idea of bringing an official policy to deal with the matter.In this context it is essential to understand the problem in depth.
Directive word
Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about the ghost gear- what it means, magnitude of the problem and solutions required.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the ghost gear.
Body–
Discuss in detail the risks and problems posed by ghost gear and also discuss the possible solutions to the problem. E.g there are still no data pertaining to the extent of prevalence of ghost gear off India’s coast. And data is crucial here, for the detrimental effects of these nets also spillover into other countries and oceans; Ghost nets are often ‘ghost fishers’. Ocean currents carry them for thousands of km across the ocean floor, ensnaring, injuring and drowning marine life and damaging live corals along the way; Discarded Indian and Thai fishing nets, for instance, have been fished out of Maldivian coasts; Entire fishing communities are affected by these actions, especially in developing countries like India where the demand for fish keeps rising etc.
Discuss the possible solutions. E.g In countries like Canada and Thailand, fishermen retain their used nets; these are recycled into yarn to craft socks and even carpet tiles; Outreach and education among fishing communities would be crucial along with policy-level changes etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
