Don't Eat Fish

Wolf

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50.0

0.0

2008-06-19T15:09:13+00:00

false As the environmental movement grows by leaps and bounds, conscious people are figuring out that a predominantly vegetarian diet is best for the environment and global food stocks. Why has fish not entered this equation? We’re still digging into our wild alaskan salmon and our yellowtail sashimi like they’re going out of style. Well, they’ve been going out of style-in a major way. Sushi lovers, marine life enthusiasts, fishermen, and any human with a pulsing heart-we have some very harsh news for you. The oceans are literally in a state of collapse. <a href="http://www.econsciousmarket.com/eco-times/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/fish-market-butcher-by-savix.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-343" src="http://www.econsciousmarket.com/eco-times/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/fish-market-butcher-by-savix.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="162" /></a>According to a report in the scientific journal Nature, <a id="zbb.14" href="http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/05/14/coolsc.disappearingfish/">90% of the world’s big fish populations</a>, including tuna, swordfish, marlin and large groundfish, such as cod, halibut, skate and flounder, are gone. The report goes on to say that there is almost nowhere in the world’s oceans that is not suffering massively from ecological collapse. Says Ransom Myers, a fisheries biologist at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and lead author of the study, “I think the point is there is nowhere left in the ocean not overfished.” The co-author of the study, Boris Worm, said the loss of big fish and overabundance of fishing has massively destructive effects on the ecosystem as a whole. The hope of the two scientists was that this study would serve as a wake up call to individuals, governments, fishing companies and wildlife organizations. “People haven’t before seen how bad this is,” said Worm. “It doesn’t make any sense, economically or ecologically, to ignore this…These are the megafauna, the big predators of the sea, and the species we most value. Their depletion not only threatens the future of these fish and the fishers that depend on them, it could also bring about a complete re-organization of ocean ecosystems, with unknown global consequences.” <a href="http://www.econsciousmarket.com/eco-times/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/pikes-market-by-hyku.jpg"><img class="alignleft alignnone size-full wp-image-338" src="http://www.econsciousmarket.com/eco-times/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/pikes-market-by-hyku.jpg" alt="" width="260" height="227" /></a>Marine biologist and <a id="zbb.23" href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0515_030515_fishdecline.html">National Geographic</a> Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle said, “I don’t blame the fishermen for this,” she said. “We, the consumers, have done this because we have a taste for fish and ‘delicacies’ such as shark-fin soup. Our demand for seafood appears to be insatiable…Most people also don’t know how bad it is for us to be eating so much fish, not only because of the destruction of an ecosystem vital to survival but also because the big predatory fish are full of the toxins and other pollutants that we cast into the oceans. It’s not as healthy to eat fish as most people believe.” Is there any way to turn this catastrophic situation around? <a href="http://www.econsciousmarket.com/eco-times/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/fair-fish-co.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-335" src="http://www.econsciousmarket.com/eco-times/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/fair-fish-co.jpg" alt="" width="343" height="257" /></a>Several U.S. and Canadian reports claim to see a steady improvement in their local fisheries, though these claims have often been questioned by the scientific community. The good news is that many fisheries and governmental bodies are recognizing the problem and looking for solutions. Myers suggests restoring stocks to a higher abundance. “We could get just as much fish out of the ocean by putting in only one-third to one-tenth of the effort,” he said. “It would be difficult for fishermen initially, but they will see the gains in the long run.” Other groups have called for preserving whole swaths of ocean from any fishing, eliminating fishing industry subsidies, and limiting unintended “bycatch” (25% or more fishing hauls are caught by accident, then discarded dead into the sea.) While the current state of things sounds rather disheartening, Worm pointed to several solutions. For instance, when laws have made certain fishing areas have been made off limits, there have been great regenerative results to the fish populations. “In most regions we saw increases in faster-growing species which seemed to fill in for overfished stocks. This points to the recovery potential for the community at large. But unfortunately we often switch fishing pressure to species that are doing well, and drive them down in turn. This sabotages recovery.” So, what really is the solution? Simply, lay off the fish. If we cut down on fish consumption (and pollution) in a major way, the fish populations will recover. If we keep fishing at current rates-prepare for mass extinction of our ocean’s greatest residents. Veggie burger, anyone? Do you want to make oceans safe for its own residents again? Take action! <ul><li>Eliminate or greatly reduce your fish intake </li><li>If you must eat fish, check out <a href="http://www.blueocean.org/seafood/" target="_blank" title="Find out which fish get the green light">Blue Ocean Institute’s Guide To Ocean Friendly Seafood</a></li><li>The acidity of the ocean due to pollution is killing sea life-encourage your Senator to <a href="https://secure2.convio.net/toc/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=411" target="_blank" title="Fill in this form letter and Ocean Conservancy will send it to your Senator">cap greenhouse gas emissions</a> to protect our oceans </li><li>If you are very passionate ocean conservation, <a href="http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ta_activist" target="_blank" title="Let Ocean Conservancy show you how to make a big difference today!">become a Super Activist </a>with Ocean Conservancy or <a href="http://http//www.oceana.org/north-america/home/">Oceana</a></li></ul> Wolf

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Don't Eat Fish

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2010-01-20T06:05:09+00:00

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