Marine Biology and Human Affairs

Abstract

This chapter presents some of the important discoveries and fields of research in marine biology that have proved useful, and necessary, for mankind. The supply of food from the sea, even if well managed, is not inexhaustible. It can be supplemented to some extent by the farming of fish and shellfish in confined areas. While the cultivation of freshwater fish has long been practiced, as has that of shellfish, such as oysters and mussels, the cultivation of marine fish was found to be difficult and awaited the necessary discovery. Every kind of marine fish is not necessarily good to eat. Much research is now directed to the extraction and identification of poisons from fish, which may be dangerous to eat throughout the year or only at certain seasons. The introduction of echo-sounding after the first war added a new tool for marine biological research. It was noticed that some of the records showed not only a tracing of the bottom of the sea, but also, a false bottom in mid-water. It was soon realized that these must be caused by shoals of fish, and the use of echo-sounders for locating fish is now general throughout the fishing industry. Observations on fish have probably played little part in the design of ships. No doubt the very idea of a streamline shape must have originated from looking at fish, and this was certainly in the mind of Sir George Cayley, a founder of modern hydrodynamics, and it is on record that fish have been towed in experimental tanks by ship designers.