Current ConditioNs
Consuming seafood is important to healthy living, but most of the current fishing methods are detrimental to the survival of bycatch, unintentionally caught species.
In the United States, most of the fish consumed is obtained through commercial fisheries where enormous ships set to sea for up to six months, and catch tons of fish. With the constant increase in demand for seafood, one would assume that the tons of captured fish is ideal, but in reality, commercial fishing has destroyed the ocean ecosystem to the extent of annihilating 90 percent of the large fish population.¹ The habitats of many fish have been destroyed and the genetic diversity of wild sea life is being reduced. Destructive methods used by fisheries include the use of poison in fresh and marine waters, which most often affects bycatch, the use of explosives, which often destroy coral reefs, and the practice of muroami, which employs violently lowering pounding devices.² The demand for seafood has not decreased and will not decrease soon. This is not only due to seafood’s delicious taste, but to its nutritious qualities. Sea food is a good source of minerals, vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and proteins. Fortunately, steps have been taken to decrease the negative effects of commercial fisheries. The most predominant includes responsible farm fishing, which grows and farms only the desired species. |
¹ http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/factory-farming/fish/commercial-fishing/
² http://www.fao.org/fishery/topic/12353/en
³ http://www.seachoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/SC_card_2012_5panel_web.pdf
² http://www.fao.org/fishery/topic/12353/en
³ http://www.seachoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/SC_card_2012_5panel_web.pdf
*UCLA EPS 15 ocean/climate science communication project for Prof. Tripati in Fall 2014.
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*Copyright Disclaimer: Pursuant to Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.