Data Visualization
In Deep Water: Overfishing in the South China Sea
For this data visualization, we show the growing environmental concerns around overfishing in the South China Sea. The data collection process quickly posed challenges for us due to the lack of transparency and availability of data related to fishing and artificial island construction in the area. After significant research, we were able to find a reliable dataset that charted fish yield between 1970 and 2018 by country by year via the fishing method of bottom trawling or dragging a net along the seafloor.
This is the most environmentally damaging way to fish because it not only catches a large amount of fish in a short amount of time, but it also collects and kills coral from the sea floor. The radial chart impactfully demonstrates the dramatic increases in total and country-specific fish yield quantity over the years. We also included an additional graph, next to the radial chart, showing that approximately half of all discarded fish (around 9 million tons) are caught using bottom trawling.
We drew inspiration from the naturally occurring colors of ocean waters and marine life for our visualization's color palette. Through this visualization, we make the case that bottom trawling is environmentally damaging because it allows fishermen to catch too many fish too quickly, it irreparably damages the sea floor, and it causes many of the caught fish to be discarded.
