Abstract

Millions of animals, plants, and other organisms live in the ocean. Humans rely on marine ecosystems for seafood and other resources. Fishing is important, but if fishermen are not careful, they can overfish and damage the ocean habitats with their fishing gear. So, many people are working to protect the ocean.

However, sometimes people living closest to the ocean worry that protecting it might harm their jobs. Fishermen depend on the ocean’s resources. If they are not allowed to continue fishing, they will lose their jobs and cannot provide fish for people to eat. 

Our study shows this worry is not necessarily true. Protecting the marine environment can actually benefit fishermen, and therefore all of us.