As the human population continues to explode and demand for fish increases, we have had to resort to indiscriminate fishing techniques, such as long lining and drift netting, which kill everything in their path including non-target fish, sea turtles, sea birds, and marine mammals. Often these nets are lost or discarded at sea where they continue to kill.
Sadly, the ocean’s resources cannot compete with these techniques and over fishing depletes the food source for marine mammals and all marine life. Even worse, dolphins, sea lions, and other marine mammals are often scapegoats, blamed for the decline of fish populations. This results in the intentional, often legal, killing of both individual marine mammals and populations.
As a consumer, you can make a difference. Visit the Seafood Watch which indicates the seafood items you should buy if you want to support healthy fisheries for the ocean and its inhabitants, where:
- there is little environmental damage from the fishing gear or fish farming activity
- the population being fished is healthy and abundant
- there is little by catch (the catching and discarding of unwanted marine life)
- the fishery or farm is well managed
Sustainable Seafood is important. The link below will help you make the most responsible seafood choices.
 | Seafood WATCH – Make Choices For Healthy Oceans The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program helps consumers and businesses make choices for healthy oceans. Our recommendations indicate which seafood items are “Best Choices,” “Good Alternatives,” and which ones you should “Avoid.” website: www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx |
