Simply stated, if we don't make changes in the way we harvest the seafood we enjoy, we run the risk of upsetting the entire ocean ecosystem on Earth. Overfishing threatens the ocean's ability to help regulate our climate and supply livelihood for millions of people.
The statistics are staggering: (Statistics from MontereyBayAquarium.org)
- Approx. 80 percent of fisheries have been depleted, fully exploited, overfished or are recovering from depletion.
- Estimated 90 percent of predatory fish such as sharks, swordfish and cod have been removed from the world's oceans.
- The global catch of wild fish levelled off over 20 years ago, and 70 percent of the world's fisheries are being harvested at capacity or are in decline.
So why is this suddenly a problem when we have been fishing for thousands of years? Technology is one of the most significant reasons for the seafood sustainability problem. Because we have the technological advantages to fish deeper and more efficiently than we have in the past, we are threatening everything from the food supply to the natural legacy of the oceans that we will leave behind for generations to come.
This is a clear illustration of how technology can be both a blessing and a curse. From a positive aspect, advances in technology are the reasons we live in an information age with nearly unlimited access to data and have the resources to both understand and effect change when it comes to environmental issues, including the problem of seafood sustainability.
Aquaculture is a step in the right direction. What is 'aquaculture'? "The broad term 'aquaculture' refers to the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environments, including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean."link(aquaculture.noaa.gov;http://aquaculture.noaa.gov/what/welcome.html
Organizations like the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) are leading the charge to raise awareness, transform the world's seafood markets and promote sustainable fishing practices. The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is a federal agency under the Department of Commerce that has established regulations and policies overseeing sustainable aquaculture in the United States. With the help of these organizations we can find an alternative to depleting the supply of ocean wildlife and begin farming enough seafood to satisfy nearly half the demand.
There are a couple of things we can do. One is to make ocean-friendly seafood choices. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch provides enough information to help consumers decide 'Best Choices', 'Good Alternatives' and which seafood to 'Avoid'.
and ways you can help.
Follow this link
if you are looking for information about where to find sustainable seafood globally.
Unfortunately, there are too many companies fishing our oceans and supplying our stores which are more concerned with profits than the planet. It's up to us, as consumers, to purchase seafood from responsible and sustainable sources.
Grocery stores, like Whole Foods, are beginning to colour code their seafood with red, yellow or green to inform the customer whether the fish was obtained from a source that was sustainable. There are some eco-responsible retailers that won't sell seafood from overfished waters at all, but ultimately we need to rely on our personal moral and ethical principles to make the final decision.
Would you be comfortable if you knew you were slowly contributing to the destruction of the planet? If you have integrity in the beliefs that keep you true to the inner knowing of your contribution to the planet, you will heed this warning.
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