Seafood is the only food source that is still actively hunted by humans on a large scale. Once it seemed the ocean would supply an endless bounty of seafood, but today, we are discovering its limits. Off New England, cod were once so plentiful that boats had trouble pushing through them. Now the cod are nearly gone, and a centuries-old fishing tradition is ending. Other overfished species include sharks, bluefin tuna and many kinds of West Coast rockfish. When one kind of fish is no longer plentiful, fishermen must move on to new species.
The Seafood Watch Guide is a resource that allows people in different regions to quickly verify if the seafood they would like to purchase is raised and harvested responsibly. The Guide has three categories: Best Choices, Good Alternatives, and Avoid. Best Choice selections are abundant, well managed populations that are caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways. Good Options are selections that people have voiced concerns over habitat disappearing or fishing techniques. Selections in the Avoid category are caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life, humans, or the environment. The listings can be somewhat of a surprise for many people! The guides are available in print and electronic forms.
There are many examples of the positive impacts of the seafood watch campaign, for example, consumers pressured tuna fishing companies to use nets that do not harm dolphins. Seafood Watch Partners now include zoos, aquariums, restaurants, retailers, universities, food co-ops, seafood suppliers, and more. All these organizations promote sustainable seafood. Passionate seafood eaters can promote State Senate Bill 21, which regulates the dumping of fishing gear in the ocean. Lost and abandoned fishing gear traps marine life and is the leading cause of marine mammal deaths each year.
Take Action:
• Download a Seafood Guide or download the App for your iPhone. Log onto www.mobile.seafoodwatch.org anytime to view the latest guide.
• Become a Seafood Watch Partner. See montereybayaquarium.org for more information.
• Write to Senator Joe Simitian in support of SB21. See suggested writing points
Other Tags: Water Quality, Air Quality, Pesticide/Fertilizer Use, Education, SB21, Senator Joe Simitian, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Seafood Watch.
Pic - http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_issues.aspx (Jeff Rotman, Gary Braasch)
