Overharvesting is killing the seas

 

 

 

In the Northern Hemisphere, we are experiencing the coming of Spring, with longer days and a time of rebirth for animals and plants alike. In the Southern Hemisphere the wheel of the year turns once again to the Autumnal Equinox or Mabon as our pagan ancestors called it. The day and night are again of equal length and the cycles of life are brought to our attention as the leaves change colors and death covers the landscape.

 

 

For at least the last 12,000 years, people all over the world have celebrated the passage of time, the journey of the Earth around the Sun, in ways that have connected their lives to the life of our planet. How might our lives be changed, our environmental problems be helped, and our ability to look beyond race or color or religious preference if we took more time to recognize the seasons and the wisdom they bring?

 

In Seattle, spring also brings the fishing season and commercial fishing boats are leaving Puget Sound and heading for Alaska to take their yearly catch of various fish. While regulatory bodies place limits on the catch, for many species it will be too little, too late as stocks are overfished. Millions of pounds of fish will be taken from the sea this season at a rate much faster than the species can reproduce.

 

 The extreme harvest of animals from the sea and the huge pressure of commercial fishing fleets are usually justified by the claim that millions of people are provided food from this source of protein. Yet little of the sea life caught is used to feed the hungry. Unimaginable amounts of unwanted species, immature animals, and undesirable pieces of the meat are wasted and either dumped at sea or buried in landfills. Twenty five percent of the fish pulled from the sea never make it to market and much of the rest is used in designer foods for the affluent customer.

 

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that 70% of the world's fish species are either fully exploited or depleted. The worldwide fleet of commercial fishing vessels has doubled since 1970 and operates at a loss of 54 billion taxpayer dollars every year.

 

The UN reports that 27 million tons of unwanted fish are thrown back each year (this figure does not include marine mammals, sea birds and some invertebrates killed in fishing operations). Most of them do not survive because of rough handling during the catch. This represents more than half of all fish from capture fisheries that are used for direct human consumption.

 

The Humane Society of the United States reports that “The annual global catch peaked in 1989 at 89 million tons and has currently stabilized at about 85 million tons. This abuse has raised great concern within all areas of the fishing community.”

 

Some claim that the world’s fish could be extinct by the middle of this century.

 

The amounts of other kinds of fish that are wasted are truly staggering. In aquaculture, the controlled raising of fish, about 30% of the population often dies. When fishes are turned into filets, 40% to 60% of the fish is discarded. Thirty percent of the fish cut up into steaks or canned is discarded. The processing of fin fish wastes 30% to 60%, crab wastes up to 85 percent of the animal and shrimp processing generates 40% to 80% waste.

 

The cod fishery catches millions of pounds of halibut and throws them back. They are usually dead or injured and soon die. The halibut fishery catches millions of pounds of cod each year and considers it a trash fish. The dead or injured fish are also wasted. Some efforts are underway to reduce the waste.

 

We must carefully examine the assumptions and rationalizations that have kept us feeling safe and comfortable for all our lives. We must look beyond the can and the cellophane wrapper and fully consider what it took to give us the foods we have been taught to prefer. Maybe we can create own preferences instead of accepting those of our parents and the television.

 

Our power to heal our world is enormous. But our fears and confusion are great. Don't try to figure it all out. You can't. Simplification is usually the best course, both for our bodies and for our planet. Remembering the web of life and that we are just one strand in it may help reduce the craving for fish and other forms of life. Otherwise, more than just life in the sea will be wasted.

 

Is there such a thing as a "green" fishery? We will explore that next time.

 

 

1.      It can be very difficult to research this issue. If you do, use some keywords like "bycatch" "fish waste" and "offal."

 

2.      See the Fisheries Factsheet created by the Humane Society of the US.

 

3.  As with most environmental issues, you and I affect the outcome. If you are disturbed by what you have learned about the way we use the life in our oceans, try not eating fish for a while. Even omega-3 fatty acids which many assume comes only from fish can be obtained from plant sources.

 

4.  Mercury is a pervasive pollutant throughout the world's oceans and many fish species contain various amounts of mercury in their tissues. Certain species must be eaten in moderation and pregnant women should especially monitor their fish consumption.