Fisheries

Please explore, read, and enjoy informative news on the current state of Global Fisheries...

August 25th, 2011

The battle for Blue Fin

Blue Fin tuna. A prized catch, highly profitable, large and rare. These characteristics contribute to the ever-growing and insatiable demand for Blue Fin Tuna, which can yield up to $1000.00/Kg in some markets. This delicious fish has faced incessant harvesting and continued efforts to increase catch quotas and economic opportunities.

Global Blue Fin populations have declined so much in recent decades that this specie is now on the brink of extinction along with Salmon, sharks, Loggerhead turtles, and Atlantic Cod. These are just some of the ocean species who have had their populations completely decimated by over-fishing.

The International Program on the State of the Ocean reports that "the combined affects of overfishing, fertilizer run-off, pollution, and ocean acidification from Carbon Dioxide emissions are putting much marine life at immediate risk of extinction".

It is certainly not only Blue Fin tuna that is the target and victim of overfishing, and no marine animal can escape the repercussions of a decline in ocean health. Research findings and population estimates have provided the information we need to create sustainable solutions for our living oceans. Measures to recover fish species like Blue Fin tuna should take precedent if we are planning to consume seafood in the future.

Threatened marine populations are the clearest indicators of damage to our seas and we should take action to remedy this problem. Instead of aggressively pursuing the remaining Blue Fin tuna, there should be an inclination toward reducing our consumption of this fish so it may begin to recover in the wild. Our shortage of political will, leadership and resolve to do right by our precious ocean resources may have consequences beyond what we can fathom.

Please be aware of your consumption of seafood and be informed on how your fish was caught, where it came from, and whether it is a sustainable specie. Awareness and education will help curb the current trend of unsustainable fishing around the world. If the demand stops, so will the unethical practices that define Global Fisheries today.

Information on sustainable fish guides can be found here:

David Suzuki's Sustainable Seafood guide: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/eat-for-a-healthy-planet/suzukis-top-10-sustainable-seafood-picks/

Sea Choice: Choosing Sustainable Seafood: http://seachoice.org/

Greenpeace Red List: Fish to avoid: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/seafood/red-list-of-species/how-on-the-red-list

August 21st, 2011

Fighting for the right of fish

The Global Fisheries industry encompasses some of the most powerful nations in the world, including the European Union. Made up of dominating fishing countries, the EU once had some of the richest fishing grounds in the ocean. In the past century, countries like Spain, Denmark, France and the United Kingdom fished the bountiful North Sea and provided nearly 5% of global fish catches annually. However, over the last 50 years an increase in size and number of fishing fleets and aggressive methods of catching have left fish stocks in the North Sea way down. The EU now imports the great majority of its favoured fish species from neighbouring countries and even China.

After a desire to understand the industrial side of his nation's fisheries, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall decided to take a journey to the inside of today's Global Fisheries. His findings were indicative of the worldwide trend of 'discarding' unwanted species of fish at sea, or simply throwing away fish that are above quota limits. In short, Fearnley-Whittingstall found that 1/2 the fish caught in the North Sea were thrown back to the ocean dead or dying.

The Fish Fight campaign is the result of a man's quest to seek the truth behind fisheries' hidden agenda, and his resolve to act upon the shameful cruelties taking place in our world's oceans. Since the launch of the Fish Fight campaign, 770,000 people have signed a petition to the British Government, urging parliament and responsible ministers to end 'discarding' at sea.

Eco-Odyssey supports this campaign and movement towards exposing the true nature of Global Fisheries, including wasteful fishing practices killing millions of tons of animals each year. Please visit the Fish Fight campaign website to learn about this important issue, for the enormity of by-catch and wasting of nutritious seafood is a worldwide problem that needs to end.

If you support this campaign, sign the petition and take a active stance against 'discarding' at sea: http://www.fishfight.net/sign-up/

Link to the Eco-Odyssey Video page for a short clip featuring the Fish Fight in action! http://www.eco-odyssey.com/main/multimedia-2/clips.html

August 7th, 2011

A recent report from the "Radio New Zealand News" claims commercial fishing fleets could be contributing to the decline of native Sea Lion populations from the Auckland and Campbell islands.

In "Marine researchers say commercial fishing could be killing off New Zealand's largest population of native Sea Lions", researchers share drastic figures showing a massive unexplained reduction in breeding and births since 2009. Ruling out factors such as diseases infecting the Sea Lions, scientists are exploring more plausible causes such as by-catch incidents and reduction in food availability due to increased competition with fishermen for squid.

With less than 10,000 remaining native Sea Lions, it remains imperative that the true cause for this massive decline of this species be found. Minister of Fisheries deepwater manager Aoife Martin states wildlife safety is a major concern and that fishing fleets are developing methods in which to safeguard these animals.

For more on this story, please link to the article here: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/81683/fishing-major-factor-in-sea-lion-decline-research

July 22nd, 2011

As the word becomes more and more aware of the impending consequences of industrialized fishing, there are great sources of information being compiled listing the species with severely depleted stocks, and those populations still healthy in numbers. With this data, researchers have made suggestions available to the masses about which fish to avoid consuming as well as sustainable species recommended for eating.

An article from the Guardian.co.uk puts forth a detailed list of sustainable and threatened fish species using data from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, FishWatch, and the Marine Conservation Society to create an in-depth resource helping us to choose our fish wisely.

In this day-in-age, humans can contribute to improve the dangers facing our marine species by simply learning about how to make ethical consumption choices that do not threaten the stability of global fish stocks.

To view list of sustainable fish species, click to David Stark's blog on:http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/jul/21/fishing-ethical-shopping-choices#data, or visit any of the three above mentioned organizations to learn more about this important topic.

June 29th, 2011

As debates and concerns continue over the state of our world fisheries, Sea Shepherd conservation society is working to actively protect some of our most threatened ocean species. This progressive group of dedicated people are well known for getting to the heart of the most pressing issues, and ensuring their presence is felt and heard.

Blue Fin Tuna fishing is one of the most profitable and volatile industries today, seeing a 70% decline in fish stocks since 1970. Despite efforts of the world's leading conservation and protection agencies, control over fishing regulations is a very complex  and slow process, having little success in effectively protecting the Blue Fin Tuna stocks from collapsing.

World Fish stocks have reached an all time low, and are having a devastating effect on ocean ecosystems around the world. The Blue Fin Tuna is a prime example of how continuous exploitation of a top predatory fish is void of true concern for the sustainability of its populations. This type of practice is evident with most species targeted today.

Sea Shepherd Campaign Status: Operation Blue Rage 2011 For more information on the current efforts of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in protecting the Blue Fin Tuna, click to the full article here: http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/news-110622-1.html

June 14th, 2011

FIsh Farming in answer to growing meat demands, says report:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/14/fish-farming-global-meat-demands

January 31st, 2011

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

This article highlights many statistics surrounding the fisheries industry, thus providing a concise look into its current state of affairs.

"Fish consumption reaches all-time high", http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/50260/icode/

February 20th, 2011

Canadian Broadcasting Federation

Big fish numbers dwindling: UBC study - Canada - CBC News

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/02/20/big-fish-study-ubc.html

New Zealand fisheries are not as healthy as some claim. If you choose ecologically sustainable seafood you will help improve New Zealand's fishing practices and return our oceans to an abundance and health.

For more information on each fish species and the assessment processes used to produce the BEST FISH GUIDE, go to: www.bestfishguide.org.nz