An article (read here) published on December 24th, 2009 at Projo.com by PETA research specialist Paula Moore helps to shed a little more light on the rapidly spreading ocean dead zones. One of the biggest signs of this growing plague, Moore reports, is the massive number of Nomura jellyfish teeming through
coastlines from Japan to Hawaii and New York to Spain.
Nomura jellyfish can grow to be 450 pounds each which can wreak some serious havoc on fishing boats along these coasts. In addition to the damage they can cause to boats and netting, Nomura jellyfish in such large quantities consume a great amount of zooplankton, which disrupts the food cycle of the sea.
According to scientists, the cause of this massive jellyfish invasion is a combination of pollution, overfishing and climate change. It is also believed that the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus as well as the temperature of the water makes these coastlines the best breeding grounds for this type of jellyfish. These factors are causing dead zones to spread across our oceans, and the jellyfish invasion is a sign that things aren’t getting any better. These sea creatures can thrive in the toxic algae blooms that typically kill off other sea life. So what do these factors all have in common? They can all be altered by a simple change in our eating habits.
Moore’s article sums it up best when she discusses how the combination of pollution, overfishing and climate change are the cause, therefore “Leaving animals, including fish, off our dinner plates will combat all three problems.”
Of course these factors aren’t the only cause of dead zones in our oceans. Read more about the other causes of ocean dead zones here.
Changing the way we eat can help combat the spread of ocean dead zones. Cutting out meat a few times a week is a great way to start, but eating a healthy vegetarian or vegan diet is one of the best things that we as individuals can do to reduce our ecological footprint on the earth.
If you're not sure where to start, try visiting some of the sites below, or check out a local restaurant that offers vegetarian and vegan menu options. Click here for reviews on local veggie Cincinnati restaurants for ideas on where to dine.
Sites to check out: GoVeg, VegOhio, HappyCow, Peta
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