By: Ben Herman

• a wonderful and varied ecozone • many distinct features. • From fishing to potato farming, this

ecozone supports the economy in many different ways and should be appreciated for that

Map of the EcozoneMap of the Ecozone

Physical Characteristic of the Physical Characteristic of the Atlantic Maritimes EcozoneAtlantic Maritimes Ecozone

Runs from the northeastern end of Runs from the northeastern end of the Appalachian mountain chain all the Appalachian mountain chain all the way from newfoundland to the way from newfoundland to AlabamaAlabama

There are few pockets of new There are few pockets of new growth, today, forests are secondary growth, today, forests are secondary or tertiary growths.or tertiary growths.

The weather is temperate due to the The weather is temperate due to the oceans surrounding the areaoceans surrounding the area

Terms associated with the ecozoneTerms associated with the ecozone

1. Biological overfishing 1. Biological overfishing 2. Bycatch2. Bycatch

Biological OverfishingBiological Overfishing

Biological overfishing occurs when Biological overfishing occurs when fishing mortality has reached a level fishing mortality has reached a level where the stock biomass has a where the stock biomass has a negative growth. negative growth.  This has a negative This has a negative impact because it removes an impact because it removes an important part from the foodchain.important part from the foodchain.

BycatchBycatch

Bycatch is when unwanted, non-Bycatch is when unwanted, non-target animals are caught along with target animals are caught along with the fish that were supposed to be the fish that were supposed to be caught. This can cause issues caught. This can cause issues because anything that is caught but because anything that is caught but not wanted is usually not released not wanted is usually not released but instead killed.but instead killed.

As with any geological area, the Atlantic maritime ecozone has many problems to face

1. Heavy overfishing Atlantic maritime

2. Heavy forestry

Issues affecting the maritimes

Heavy ForestryHeavy Forestry

Forestry is one of the Atlantic Forestry is one of the Atlantic maritime’s main economic maritime’s main economic stimulators stimulators

Forestry can also increase the risk of Forestry can also increase the risk of complete deforestation. complete deforestation.

Deforestation would have a Deforestation would have a devastating effect on all the animals devastating effect on all the animals and plants in the area, making them and plants in the area, making them endangered if not extinct.endangered if not extinct.

Heavy overfishingHeavy overfishing Between 1850 and 1950, the amount of fish being Between 1850 and 1950, the amount of fish being

caught rose by 100000 tons of fish per year. caught rose by 100000 tons of fish per year. By the late 1960’s fish production reached a By the late 1960’s fish production reached a

record high at 800000 tons of fish a year after record high at 800000 tons of fish a year after the introducing of foreign fleets. the introducing of foreign fleets.

In the 1970’s a drastic decline to 200000 tons In the 1970’s a drastic decline to 200000 tons was followed by the complete collapse in the was followed by the complete collapse in the 1980’s. 1980’s.

the collapse causes struggle both economically the collapse causes struggle both economically and in more local ways, fish farmers having little and in more local ways, fish farmers having little or no food.or no food.

Human Activities and the Human Activities and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Fishing is currently a staple for the Fishing is currently a staple for the economy of the ecozone. economy of the ecozone.

An issue is that people are beginning An issue is that people are beginning to overfish, making the fish to overfish, making the fish disappear at an alarming rate.disappear at an alarming rate.

ReferencesReferences http://ecozones.ca/english/zone/AtlanticMaritime/land.html http://overfishing.org/pages/From_A_to_Z.php http://partner.galileo.org/schools/gibson/4-5_fp/geography/

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