I cannot believe an entire year has gone by already!  Today is Earth day and that means that I have successfully completed my year without eating any seafood.  I have to say that it wasn’t difficult at all, at least for me.

I feel that in accomplishing this I have been able to touch a few more people along the way in my mission to promote healthier oceans, fisheries and sustainable seafood.  For the most part, people actually understood my motives even though they themselves would never attempt to remove seafood from their lives even for a week.  However the conversation about sustainability and the truth about some of their favourite catches was eye opening to many and even though most will still choose to have their Ahi tuna at sushi restaurants I can’t help but feel that I  may at least continue to tug on some heart strings somewhere when those people decide to make such an unsustainable choice.

The point is, it is incredibly easy to make better choices when choosing seafood at a restaurant or at home for your family, the public just needs to be more educated and sustainable choices need to be accessible. As our world becomes more aware of our troubled oceans I truly believe that our selfish, destructive fishing practices of the past will become just that…the past.

So today is Earth Day!  How are you going to contribute?  Go with sustainable seafood.  Sustainable seafood products can ensure a better environment and security for ocean life in our future but only if we choose it.  It’s time we all do…and what better day then to start today?

I can’t believe we are already half way through March!  That means that I am approximately one month away from completing my year without seafood successfully!  April 16th is only 29 days away now, but what comes after the 16th of April for me?

Sustainable seafood choices of course!  I must say that I am so fortunate to live in British Columbia where most of our seafood is in fact sustainable so I absolutely have a wide variety of great seafood choices available to me.  However it will be difficult for me to refrain from my favourite sushi which is tuna.  Luckily British Columbia is also home to the only sustainable tuna left in the ocean which is Albacore Tuna and it is truly delicious, however it is harder to find at sushi bars.

The ironic part of all this is that I am still 33 weeks pregnant, so I can’t have sushi for a while anyway!  I can’t even have crab or any other type of shellfish which is what I miss the most!  Funny, it seems that my year without seafood will be getting an extension after all!

The other day at work I was delighted to see Sablefish back on the lunch menu as it happens to my favourite fish.  I had two guests order it for lunch that day and while I was admiring it on the hot line before it made its way to the table I had to admit how much I missed it!

So far my year without seafood has gone along pain free without any real cravings or desires for anything until of course the other day.  So I felt inspired to write about this wonderful fish and its even more wonderful fishery!

Sablefish is a deep water, Northern Pacific black-skinned fish caught far off the coast of British Columbia.  Sablefish, otherwise known as Black Cod or Butterfish, is a deliciously tender, rich, buttery white fish with a flesh that gleams pearly white making it an ideal restaurant fish for its beauty and texture.

However the best part about Sablefish is the way in which it is managed and caught.  The Canadian Sablefish Fishery is one of the World’s most successful, sustainable fisheries; a leader in sustainable fishery practices currently being modeled after World wide.

In the past Sablefish was only a bycatch product of groundfish fisheries and considered a nuisance.  However years later in an attempt to make Sablefish a respectable fishery, this species was taken to the markets in Japan to develop an interest in the fish while the fishery itself experimented in ways to improve the catching process to ensure environmental protection and continued productive harvesting strategies.

The Canadian Sablefish Association has made it their mission to stay on top of their industry by playing an active role in the research and management of the species to ensure its well being and continued success.  Their efforts lead to the creation of trapping, a sustainable fishing method that eliminates virtually all bycatch.  All Sablefish is then bled, cleaned and frozen onboard resulting in a superior product.

Sablefish is available all year round and is one of the best sustainable seafood products on the market today.  So choose Sablefish on your next dining adventure and show your support for sustainable fisheries.

It seems that Mexico’s long time struggle with drug wars and police corruption does not end on the streets.  Unfortunately the Mexican government’s extensive political strife also inflicts a great amount of strain on the well being of one of the World’s most important ecosystems, The Sea of Cortez.

The Sea of Cortez is located between the  Baja Peninsula and the Mexican mainland, it is approximately 600 miles long and 80 miles wide.  This stretch of sea is of enormous importance to hundreds of ocean species that rely on its waters.  In fact one third of the Planets marine mammals live here due to its biodiversity.  This region is not only vital to marine and aquatic life but also to the survival of Mexico’s commercial and sport-tourism industries.

Unfortunately over years of non-existent management of this precious ecosystem, the Sea of Cortez has been decimated by over fishing, pollution, insufficient fresh water flows and unregulated tourism.  A once thriving sea praised for being the best place in the World for Hammerhead Shark diving is now not even listed as being in the top 100 sites!

The commercial and tourism fishing industry of Mexico are vital industries to the Mexican economy and the Governments ignorance over the protection of this Sea will certainly be an enormous social disaster  in the near future if proper regulation is not implemented immediately.  So what is the hold up????

I discovered an organization dedicated to protecting the Sea of Cortez called Sea Watch (www.seawatch.org) located in La Paz Mexico.  It was founded in 1993 by, “a small group of Americans and Mexicans disgusted with the destruction of fisheries in the Sea of Cortes.”  According to their website, their greatest challenge seems to be with the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fishing (CONAPESCA), an organization set up by the Federal Government of Mexico to help protect and promote, “the conservation of marine species, also to benefit all commercial and sport-reacreative fishermen and reduce the conflicts among them.”  (www.conapesca.sagarpa.gob.mx) However it would seem that more effort is being made to protect the success of the commercial fishing industry through the use of loop holes in laws intended to protect the well being of endangered and at risk marine populations.

The law in question is the NOM-029-PESCA-2006.  With good intentions this law was devised to help stop the over-exploitation of sharks and Rays in the Sea of Cortez making it illegal to catch and fin sharks.  The law states that commercial long-lining is illegal within 50 miles of the coast of the Sea of Cortez.  This law helped to protect the sport fishing industry within these boundaries, however the commercial industry soon found loop holes and ways to benefit from this seemingly positive regulation.

A newer regulation that was passed allowed commercial long-liners to fish within the 50 mile perimeter under issued shark fishing permits with new regulations over their fishing practices which included that all by-catch be kept.  Of course all of the by-catch to be kept included all of the sport fish which was initially set out to be protected including dorado, sailfish and marlin!  It became obvious the reality of this “sustainable” law when the price for by-catch far out weighed the price for shark catch…essentially this was really a licence to catch as much protected fish as you want in protected waters!

So going back to my “Is Mahi Mahi sustainable?”  I would have to say no.  At this time Mexico is the sole regulator for one of the World’s most important marine sanctuaries which is really frightening.  It is time for the Government to take a stand to commercial pressures for the sake of the success of their future.  I’m not entirely sure it is possible for this country to pull together however organizations such as Sea Watch are making a difference by including the public voice and demanding change.

For more information about what is being done today to protect the Sea of Cortez and how you might be able to help, visit www.seawatch.org.

My husband and I just got back from a couple of weeks in Sayulita Mexico, our favorite little Mexican village just north of Puerto Vallarta.  We actually spent the winter there last year, and it was there that I became inspired to create this blog and begin my year without seafood.  So this year there was no Dorado (Mahi Mahi) or Camerons (Shrimp) for me but you could be sure to see it on every menu in every restaurant and street vendor in Mexico.

Towards the end of our trip, my husband and I went to dinner at a popular restaurant in Sayulita with family and friends and brought along our friend and surf instructor Javier, a Guadalajara native who has been living and operating his surf business in Sayulita for a few years.  As we took turns ordering our meals I could not help but take interest in the seafood choices made by everyone at the table.  My husband enjoyed taking playful shots at our family members for ordering things like shrimp fajita’s in front of me. “How can you order that in front of Jennie!” he laughs, while our friend Javier orders Ahi Tuna for dinner and then communicates his adoration for this particular fish by saying, “I just can’t resist ordering Ahi when it is on the menu, it is just so good.”  I couldn’t help but think, “Ahi Tuna is endangered…what is it doing on menus?!”

Then someone asks,  “why is there so much Mahi Mahi down here, it seems to be everywhere?”  Javier was quick to answer, after all he was the token local, “Dorado (Mahi Mahi) is a local fish in Sayulita and we have tons of it, so it’s super fresh, incredibly tasty and therefore on menus.”  I was immediately curious about that statement as I was unsure about the sustainability of Dorado, instead I assumed that he was wrong about Mexico’s abundance in this species and rather believed he, like most, mistakenly understand the reality of our troubled ocean inhabitants.  Judging by the way Mexico handles rules and regulations, I would assume those weakened philosophies would also hinder the well being of Mexico’s Fisheries.  But the truth was, I didn’t know for sure…Is Dorado an abundantly sustainable fish??

It turns out that Dorado actually grows and matures very quickly meaning that it can most likely sustain commercial fishing pressures, however they are often caught using long-lining techniques which does contribute to unnecessary bycatch and the potential injury or death of numerous other ocean species as well.

Dorado is an incredibly important fish to the Mexican economy as it is an excellent sport fishing species.  The travel sport fishing industry is a multi-million dollar industry and as they are also preyed on by Sailfish, Marlin, Sharks, some varieties of tuna and more, their presence along the Mexican coast is vital.

My brief research has lead me to believe that at this point it seems that Mexican Dorado is a safe seafood option where sustainablility is concerned but I have more questions now about what is actually happening in Mexican ocean conservation and what challenges they are facing today.

I came across another great site the other day that I really want to mention as I received an update from them in my inbox this morning.  Surfing the Internet can sometimes be such a joy, especially when you discover more organizations and people working hard to make the ocean a more hospitable place  for our vulnerable marine species to live.

This organization is Ocean Conservation Research or OCR.  What makes OCR different is their unique mission which, “is focused on understanding the scope of, and exploring solutions to the growing problem of human generated noise pollution and its impact on marine animals.”

Although the ocean can naturally be a noise place due to volcanic eruptions, violent ocean storms, polar ice shifting and earthquakes, it has also unnaturally become a much louder environment thanks to human interference.  Our growing industrial travel, commercial fishing, military and oil industries are increasingly producing intrusive noise pollution which marine species are having to adapt too.  This adaptation can possibly be threatening the well-being of all marine life as most species use sound to communicate, find food and navigate our vast oceans.

It was once thought that the enormity of our oceans could not be affected by our human dependency on the ocean and the exponential increase of noise as a result, but according to OCR, “we are seeing dramatic evidence that our ocean antics are compromising habitat, depleting life, poisoning the water – and deafening sea life with our “acoustic smog.”

There is obviously a need for more research and thus new solutions to what will be an increasing problem over time.  Unfortunately there is a shortage in conservation marine biologists and environmental scientists that are also acousticians.  It is apparent that this is a very new science that needs to be made specific to the ocean requiring many more brilliant minds and determined hearts.

In their newsletter today OCR announced that, “The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries department has launched a third in a series of four fisheries research vessels designed around new, quiet technologies.” They went on to say that the boat (Piscies) “…is so advanced and quiet that it is likely fish and other marine animals will never know it’s there.  And that’s the whole idea.”

Ocean Conservation Research has a fantastic website full of information on the subject of marine biology acoustics including research papers and various letters to support its cause.  Another great feature of their website is their sounds page which allows visitors to hear how our fish and mammals communicate while sharing our negative human contribution to noise pollution as well.

I personally think that marine noise pollution is an incredibly valid and important issue that needs to be addressed in our enormous effort to bring our oceans back to life again.  I plan on keeping up with this organization to see what advances come of this new and vital marine science.

The David Suzuki Foundation has launched a new campaign through their marine and freshwater conservation team called “I am Fish”.  This campaign is totally up my ally as it involves educating the public about the ancient connection between humans and our oceans and why we must do what we can to protect these vital ecosystems. (see video below)

As we live on land, it is easy to forget that over 70% of the Earth’s surface is in fact occupied by our vast oceans, providing the planet with over 50% of our oxygen.  I tend to stress this statistic a lot because I find it often goes unheard.  Without healthy oceans our planet’s oxygen supply will be greatly diminished.

As Canadian’s we are blessed to have the diverse marine ecosystems that we have and it is up to us to protect them.  The “I am Fish” campaign is featuring one of those spectacular ecosystems which is located here in British Columbia.  It was named PNCIMA (Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area) in 2002 and is one of the relatively healthy marine ecosystems left today.

PNCIMA (pronounced pen-SEEM-a) is located on the west coast of Canada from northern Vancouver Island to the southeast coast of Alaska.  This 88,000 square kilometer incredible span of ocean life includes the infamous Queen Charlotte Basin, Hecate Strait, Central B.C. Coast and North Vancouver Island and is very similar to the size of the Great Bear Rainforest.

This area is home to hundred’s of seabirds, the planet’s largest animals, beautiful beaches and microscopic creatures.  This ecosystem is vital to the survival of many marine species and land animals!  It is also home to a 9,000 year old reef made of glass!  This particularly unique reef is now 1,000 square kilometers wide and over five storey’s tall!  However PNCIMA is also home to over 25 communities that depend on the health and wellbeing of this area that is currently being threatened by over-fishing, poor fishing practices, pollution,  growing traffic and industrial pressure.

That is why TODAY we must act and support marine ecosystems such as PNCIMA to ensure that they are protected.

In 2002 the Canadian Government recognized a need for an integrated management program for not only British Columbia’s coast line, but for 5 unique and vulnerable ocean regions around our nation.  According to the David Suzuki Foundation, “These areas are being prioritized to undergo a planning process that would aim to improve management, develop conservation strategies and ensure long-term ecosystem health.”

Although the majority of British Columbian’s alone would like to see more than 50% of these unique ecosystems protected, only 1% actually are!  A terrible reality really.  So today the citizens of Canada have a huge opportunity to actually have a say about this matter and make a difference.

Currently we are ahead of the game, PNCIMA is still relatively healthy, but for how long.  Can we afford to wait?

To make a difference, please visit www.healthyoceans.ca and sign their already prepared letter to Canada’s Minister of Fisheries to ensure that our Government makes ocean conservation a priority.

This is important…it is our future.

I found another site today that can help all of us at home make a difference on our personal computers!  I did some searching this morning for shark finning conservation programs and stumbled across a site called care2 .

This site is all about making a difference and actually allows individuals to create their own petitions for their personal causes and market them on their site!  Care2 covers everything from the environment, ocean conservation, women’s rights to politics and animal rights.

This site is fantastic as it offers viewers so many opportunities to have their say about causes that are important to them so that change can actually occur.

Care2 also goes beyond causes and news to additionally focus on green living and personal health.  The objective of Care2 is to encourage people to make a difference in all aspects of life with great lifestyle tips and even recipes for making your own earth friendly dish detergent!

Currently there are several petitions available for ocean supporters to sign including subjects such as shark finning, over fishing,  sea turtle protection, Japanese dolphin protection and much more.

Visit www.care2.com,  find your voice and make a difference at home!

I feel terribly that I have neglected this blog for a month but for great reason!  I recently found out that I am pregnant!  The news has completely taken my attention away from the ocean as I started another blog to document my pregnancy journey called www.after-30.com .

Until last night…my husband and I met up with some friends for dinner at the Keg here in Whistler.  They had arrived early and had already ordered appetizers, escargot and cheese bread.  As we declined the offer of escargot, our quest to not eat seafood came up again.  At first my friend was confused as to why we weren’t eating seafood and said “but you’re pregnant…fish is the best thing for you right now!”  I responded by saying that my choosing not to eat seafood is more about advocating sustainability and less about not eating all seafood.

I believe that my giving up seafood for a year is an example that it is possible to refrain from the foods you love for the sake of the health and wellbeing of that species.  At some point as a society we are going to have to make a choice, and my choice is to save our oceans so that the generations below us can enjoy the same pleasures we have today.

However for that to happen, drastic changes MUST occur NOW!  Without change soon, we are destined to destroy this fragile ecosystem within a short few decades.  The only way we can successfully save our oceans is to eat sustainably.  There is no way we can convince the world to stop eating seafood…people will never understand and choose to look the other way as they do when they only hear what they want to hear.

What we can do is promote sustainable fisheries.  Choose your seafood product wisely and stop eating endangered species.  For more information on sustainable fish, please see my article on the Greenpeace Redlist under the sustainable seafood archive.

I had the honour to volunteer my services at a spiritual event in Whistler a couple of weeks ago  which hosted North America’s spiritual Guru Deepak Chopra.  The public event was a gathering of local residents as well as people from all over North America hoping to spend a couple of hours with this incredible figure and learn something deeper about themselves and the world.

Interestingly, the evening spoke more to a global consciousness than an individual awareness.  Deepak spoke of the evolution of our spirituality in North America and how we are making great strides to improve the way we think and perceive ourselves and each other, however it is our human responsibility to begin to take this knowledge and share it with a global consciousness.  His message was to make good on the World, share your passions, stand up for what you believe in and share it.

Guests that spoke at the event were incredibly inspiring, one little girl and her father took the stage after we all watched a news report featuring the two of them.  After a trip up north to the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, they were stunned to discover that the Grizzly Bears they traveled to see were being trophy hunted right before their eyes!  Kali, the little girl, was devastated by what she saw and decided she wanted to do something about it.  So they wrote letters to the Premier asking him to stop such a horribly barbaric hunt but to no avail.  Kali persevered and contacted Deepak Chopra who in turn offered to sign her next letter for support.  Again, there has been no response but Kali is not giving up.  A little girl with a big heart.  I realized that Kali and I shared a common goal, and at that moment I prayed that we would both have happy endings.

Later we were all asked to chat with the people next to us and discuss the ways that we have been contributing to the World.  This was such a great opportunity for me!  I jumped at the opportunity to share my blog and my decision to refrain from eating seafood for a year.  My group was slightly amazed and possibly confused and didn’t really offer much of a response.  Maybe because they weren’t expecting that anyone would actually be doing anything to discuss or maybe because they didn’t want to hear why I stopped eating seafood.

Regardless, that night I realized just how important my cause is, and how proud I am to have finally done something to give back and support our strained Mother Earth.

It was a magical night, full of inspiration, love and music all in the presence of the power of a collective spiritual energy.  We all left feeling like we were infact an important part of the big picture, one that we can fix if we put are hearts and minds into it.  A powerful gift indeed.