Interdisciplinary Learning Questions

This document contains interdisciplinary learning questions related to globalisation, sustainability, and the impact of fishing on marine life. It also evaluates the potential of farmed tuna in saving the bluefin from extinction. Additionally, it explores the key concept of systems in the MYP individuals and societies subject.

Interdisciplinary Learning Questions
Global context – Globalisation and sustainability
Global context exploration – commonality, diversity and interconnection
Subject groups – Sciences and Individuals and societies
Question 1 (4 marks)
With reference to source 3, 5 and 6, select two different stakeholders and outline their different
perspectives about fishing and the implications of overfishing.
Stakeholder 1 Stakeholder 2
Fishers Environmentalist
Perspective Perspective
The main focus of this group is improving
their living standards from the sale of fish.
They wish to earn their living from the trade
on fish with one eye fixed on the desire for
keeping the population of fish intact for the
future generation. They advocate for proper
research to come up with effective ways of
catching fish and other sea creatures in a
manner that ensures standard fish is caught,
and retaining underage ones. The gadgets
used for catching fish according to these
people should allow fingerlings to escape
back to the waters and only mature ones to be
taken out of the waters.
For instance, the harvest of Bluefin fauna in
the United states is done under very strict
conditions. It is done using a rod and reel or
hand-drown harpoon. This regulates the
number of fish being caught at a time by an
individual. Besides, the size is monitored as
well as the tonnage to be taken out at any
given period.
This class of people is concerned with
preservation of the marine life as well as the
freshwater habitants. They are adamantly
against fishing and suggest that if people
would desire an environment with marine life,
the n they need to abstain from catching fish
and other sea creatures. This category is the
proponents of MacLeod contentions, which
suggests that sea animals should be protected
from human inversion and should be used as
tourist attraction phenomena. They insist that
the lives and wellbeing of the sea animals
should be protected and that people should
abstain from eating fish until they learn how
to increase their population. They are working
round the clock to come up with regulations
and strict rules towards sea creature
management. This is done with the view that
some species are facing extinction, some are
migrating to other territories and Pisces have
different uses.

Implications of overfishing Implications of overfishing
1. Good health and wellbeing
2. Reduced inequalities as everybody
will have something to
3. Rapid economic growth and race
towards full employment
4. Zero hunger
5. Optimal utilization of natural
resources
6. High income generation and improved
living standards
1. Untidy environment that is inhabitable
2. Increase in the income gap between
the rich and the poor.
3. Slow pace of economic development
4. Reduced environmental consciousness
5. Interferes with the ecosystem
6. Results into unsustainable fishing
methods
Question 2 (12 marks)
Analyse the impact of fishing on the sustainability of marine life. With reference to sources 3, 5
and 6, use the analysis table below to provide relevant information and reach a conclusion based
on your analysis.
In your answer you should:
 Consider a strength and weakness of fishing in terms of sustainability
 Mention an opportunity for sustainability of marine life
 Mention a threat that may affect the sustainability of marine life
 Give a conclusion
Strength
The rules of fishing have been designed with
emphasis on biological, social and economic
wellbeing of the citizens. Several fisheries
have conducted research to come up with
healthy populations that can be managed and
exploited in the most economic fashion
Weakness
There are regulation lapses especially when
fishing is done across the country’s boundary.
Some of the modern methods of fishing are
designed with profit motive, that is, to
increase the volume of the fish caught and
limit the time for fishing.
Opportunity
Industry specialists have developed intrinsic
integrity to ensure that particular species of
marine life can be sustainable even when
certain classes are facing extinction in the
environment.
Threat
The swelling human population with
untamable appetite bent on constant
exploitation of sea creatures. Another threat
comes from the availability of unstandardized
fishing equipment in the market.
Conclusion about the impact of fishing on sustainability of marine life
Sustainable fishing is an assurance that there will be life in the oceans and freshwaters for the
future generations. It calls for the present fishermen and fishmongers to know that there
actions will impact directly on the entire environment, both in the sea and terrestrial niches.
There must be elimination of overfishing as it may threaten the existence of the entire industry.

Question 3 (a) (15 marks)
Can farmed tuna save the bluefin from extinction?
The following statement was made by Dr. Shukei Masuma, a professor at Kinki University’s
Fisheries Laboratory: “Looking ahead, there’s really no need to differentiate between wild
bluefin tuna and farmed stocks. It’s about co-existing, and bluefin tuna is but one example.
That’s the beauty of aquaculture – we can continuously look into new ways to improve on the
production of bluefin tuna.”
Using sources 3, 5 and 7, write an academic response to Dr Shukei Masuma’s statement in which
you evaluate the potential impact of farmed bluefin tuna on sustainability. In your response you
should:
 Identify relevant ways in which science is applied and used for fishing.
 Identify relevant ways in which individual and collective interests impact fishing
 Identify relevant interactions and interdependence between individuals, societies and the
environment
 Consider the implications of scientific innovation on sustainability of the ecosystem
There are several ways in which science can be applied in fishing, for instance, use of trawlers and
steamers. While practicing aquaculture, man has modified an environment where the life of fish is directly
affected by the human activities. In this environment, fish can be caught within a short period of time and
using little efforts.
Individual and collective responsibility impact on fishing
Making personal decisions to control the manner in which one goes around harvesting fish and
manipulating the fishing terrain can have direct impact on the life circle of fish. Using recommended fishing
gadgets like hooks and harpoons can help regulate the number of fish in an environment. On the other
hand, if the whole society is conscious about sustainable fishing, and use recommended fishing equipment,
the population of fish will be easy to regulate in the environment.
Interactions between individual, societies and the environment
The actions taken by an individual impact on the society. Individuals who are informed can
sensitize the society just as Dr. Shukei Masuma did by informing the society on the significance of
co-existence between different species and human beings. These residents thereafter responded by
following the rules and policies formulated by the authority to ensure existence of fish population
for the future generation.
The impact of scientific fishing methods on sustainability of the ecosystem
Some methods of scientific fishing like use of trawlers and undersized nets can result in to
overfishing. Using scientific chemicals as well can make an entire species to become extinction.

Question 3 (b) (10 marks)
Definition of the key concept systems from the MYP individuals and societies subject guide.
“Systems are sets of interacting or interdependent components. Systems provide structure and
order in human, natural and built environments. Systems can be static or dynamic, simple or
complex.”
Explain how you have synthesized your knowledge of both the sciences and individuals and
societies in your academic response in part (a) and how this has contributed to your
interdisciplinary understanding of the key concept of systems.
Question 4 (a) (4 marks)
Referring to the video in Source 8, identify four examples that demonstrate disciplinary
knowledge, two from sciences and two from individuals and societies. The video transcript is
available to support your answer.
Disciplinary knowledge: Disciplinary knowledge
The experience of aquaponics and artificial
fish rearing: solar energy is harnessed for
clean energy and eradication of nitrogen
emission into the environment
Production of fresh healthy foods, availability
of clean water and forms of energy
Disciplinary knowledge: Disciplinary knowledge
Recycling knowledge and crop regeneration:
in this system, the output of one sector is
turned into input of another. Potential
pollutants are turned into economically sound
products through recycling.
Connecting the families to their roles and
sharing the responsibilities of protecting the
ecosystem.
Question 4 (b) (16 marks)
The knowledge of sciences and individuals and societies and societies in my opinion can be
summarized in to efforts towards poverty eradication and hunger reduction. When the society is
focused on sustainable coexistence between man and his environment, he uses fishing methods that
are reasonable and realistic. The country will realize both gender and similarity in income distribution.

To what extent does the video synthesize knowledge of both scientific understanding and
individuals and societies to inform the viewer about sustainable living?
The information in the video has been summarized to highlight key components of sustainable
living. It gives an insight into a holistic approach to the connection between individual and
societal roles of environmental conservation. It pictures the strategies for the society to foster
responsible consumption and production of aquatic life. The producer outlines mechanisms for
the current generation to harness the natural resources from a strong institutional background to
ensure sustainable economic growth and development.