Aquatic systems as natural capital
Big idea: Oceans, lakes, and rivers are natural capital — they provide food, regulate climate, and support billions of livelihoods. Fish stocks are renewable natural capital that can regenerate IF we harvest them sustainably.
Ecosystem services from aquatic systems
- Provisioning — fish, shellfish, seaweed, freshwater
- Regulating — climate regulation, carbon storage, water purification
- Supporting — nutrient cycling, habitat for biodiversity
- Cultural — recreation, tourism, spiritual value
Renewable but not unlimited
Fish populations CAN regenerate, but only if we harvest at or below the maximum sustainable yield (MSY). Overfishing pushes stocks below this point, causing collapse.
Renewable does not equal infinite! Fish are renewable natural capital, but overfishing can make them effectively non-renewable if populations collapse below recovery threshold.