There has been a negative buzz surrounding the shrimp/prawn industry for quite sometime now, but do you understand why?

Shrimp/prawns are the most valued seafood world wide.  Their demand creates employment through fishing and farming across the globe with many third world economies profiting from their existence.  The more we choose shrimp cocktail and surf and turf, the more unsustainable their species and surrounding environment becomes.

According to The Monterey Bay Aquarium, “(shrimp) trawling accidentally catches and kills more than 1.8 million tons of marine life each year, including turtles, sharks and other animals, accounting for more than 25% of the world’s wasted catch…Shrimp trawling has the highest bycatch of any commercial fishery – for every pound of shrimp hauled in, three to 15 pounds of unwanted animals die in the process.”

Trawling isn’t the only issue regarding the shrimp industry.  One of North America’s greatest desires is for the Tiger prawn, Black tiger shrimp and Ebi.  Tropical shrimp and prawn farming was designed to accommodate our demand by clearing hundreds of thousands of hectares of mangrove forests.  Mangrove forests are an essential lifeline for shorelines providing nurseries, shelter and breeding places for fish and other marine life.  They also help to preserve water quality, control flooding for communities and protect shorelines from erosion.

According to www.mangroveactionproject.org “We have already lost an estimated 1 million hectares of important coastal wetlands, including mangroves, in order to make room for the artificial shrimp ponds of this boom and bust industry…Approximately 250,000 of those farmed hectares now lie abandoned because of disease and pollution.”

The shrimp industry is the most destructive ocean related industry and once again we can stop it by changing the demand for such shrimp, putting pressure on regulation and law.

If you cannot give up your desire for shrimp and prawns please choose wisely!  There are new nets now being used to vastly improve the percentage of bycatch, however it is almost impossible to know which supplier is using these safer nets.

If you must eat shrimp,  choose wisely!  Look for the BC spotted prawn, the Coon stripe prawn, the Whiteleg shrimp, the Northern pink shimp (trapped only) or the Oregon pink shrimp.  These are the most environmentally sound wild-caught and farmed species that are well managed and are not caught via trawling.

I felt compelled today to talk a bit about this fantastic organization, one that I am thrilled to share with everyone as they are making real strides toward achieving change for our oceans. Their slogan “Start a sea change” says it all! This organization strives to keep the public informed about upcoming votes, bills and laws that are being discussed and passed which concern the welfare of our oceans. Knowledge is obviously a crucial step in our efforts to demand change and Ocean Conservancy is attempting just that.

We have seen the power of the people work first hand throughout last years American Presidential elections as well with our current demand for greener products and cleaner transportation so clearly following these same paths can indeed produce similar results.
Their website www.oceanconservancy.org provides the latest information on current issues that are affecting the oceans and marine life, but better yet, they also provide visitors with ways in which they can make a difference. Ocean Conservancy provides pre-written petitions and letters which outline the concern at hand and what should be done to fix it, a voice for the ocean. Visitors need only to type their name and email address and click send and the letter of concern is sent to the appropriate senator or council member.

Currently Ocean Conservancy is urging members to sign a petition against the ” the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s fish farming program that sets a dangerous precedent for the nation and puts Gulf ecosystems at risk…the Gulf Council passed a plan to develop the first-ever regional permitting system for open-ocean aquaculture (also known as offshore fish farming).”  We understand that fish farming may be the answer to sustaining the fishing industry but there is much lack in research in determining the long term damage that might occur because of it.  Shrimp and prawn farming is an excellent example of that.  Show your support for sustainable fish farming standards by signing their petition.

Visit their take action page to learn more about the many ways you can take action at home and stay up to date with their efforts by joining their mailing list so that you are always in the know about potentially harmful decisions being made without our consent.  As a public I believe that it is more important then ever to actively participate in these global decisions as our oceans may not have the luxury of much more time.

Thank you Ocean Conservancy for all of your ocean efforts!

"Imagine an ocean without fish. Imagine your meals without seafood. Imagine the global consequences."
Finally a documentary has been released to help combat the ever looming disaster that is over-fishing! "The End of the Line" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah on January 15-25, 2009. The film explores the unfortunate story of Newfoundland and the decimation of the World’s largest cod populations which took place in the early 90’s…approximately 17 years ago! Obviously the Newfoundland cod tragedy did not have an effect on the countless global fishing industries but it has grabbed the attention of many marine biologists, scientists, conservationists and of course worried citizens.
According to the film "Scientists predict that if we continue fishing as we are now, we will see the end of most seafood by 2048." A frightening prediction and a likely result if change does not occur immediately.
This film is a must see and supports my theory of taking responsibility for our choices at home. It is up to the consumer to change the way we look at seafood and demand sustainable products for our future, otherwise global marine extinction is a certainty.
Please visit www.theendoftheline.com for more information and to find viewings in your area.

A movie that will surely move you. This is an excellent documentary on the unfortunate reality of our endangered shark population. This movie inspired me to be another voice in the cause for protection, awareness and support for our oceans and the life that inhabits them.
Sharkwater is available in DVD and is a must see! The message conveyed is undeniable and heartbreaking!

Ocean Conservancy is an excellent website dedicated to protecting our oceans through education and awareness.  They provide information for their visitors on ocean related government policy, fishing regulation, retailer and consumer sustainability.

In their effort to fulfill their mission they have created a fantastic online game to help educate visitors while raising money to support their cause.  Play “Go Fish” and Ocean Conservancy will donate $1 for every game played to help make over fishing a thing of the past!

Share this link with everyone you know, a great way to learn and conserve!

Is your favourite seafood in trouble?

In their efforts to educate and ignite sustainability initiatives within supermarkets across Canada, Greenpeace created a fish stock RED LIST bringing much needed attention to those species who are in serious trouble for survival or whose fishing practices are negatively affecting the environment and the surrounding species.

According to Greenpeace, “each species was included because the fishery or production method has negative impacts on the target species or other marine species, leads to ecosystem alterations, has social implications, or is poorly managed or illegally fished.”

As consumers we have to do our part and refuse to purchase the fish on this list!  It is up to us to make others aware of this stunning category of endangered species.  You might be surprised…

• Arctic Surf Clams
• Atlantic Cod
• Atlantic Haddock
• Atlantic Halibut
• Atlantic Salmon
• Atlantic Sea Scallops
• Chilean Sea Bass
• Greenland Halibut
• New Zealand Hoki
• Orange Roughy
• Any Sharks
• Skates and Rays
• Swordfish
• Tropical Prawns and Shrimp
• Tuna – Atlantic Bluefin Tuna – Yellowfin Tuna – Bigeye Tuna

Greenpeace Red List 2009

Choosing not to eat and purchase the species listed here is one way you can make a difference for our oceans!  Print this list off, tell your family, bring it to work, these small efforts can lead to the survival of these species and help the ocean regain some much needed strength!

For more information about the Greenpeace red list please visit:

Greenpeace-redlist

I suppose it began well before April 16th 2009.  In fact somewhere between January of 2004 and 2005.  Although I do not recall the exact date, I will never forget this day.  At the time I was working as a server for a restaurant in Vancouver called Raincity Grill.  Our restaurant was one of two well known restaurants in the city and were operated under the watchful eye of Robert Clark, Executive Chef.

The staff of both C Restaurant and Raincity Grill were requested to meet at C for an educational meeting with the Vancouver Aquarium.    We were there to learn about Ocean Wise, a conservation program created by the Vancouver Aquarium to help educate and build awareness toward sustainable seafood.  Our restaurants were on board with this program choosing only to serve sustainable seafood products.  Of course what good is such a program when you do not have all of the facts.  Our teachers went on to explain why it is so important to promote sustainable fishing and consumption as our Oceans are facing enormous pressures from not only pollution, acidification but also over fishing.

That afternoon we learned some horrible statistics, and suddenly I felt compelled to share my new knowledge with my guests.  I soon found that I was very proud to be working for a company that was doing what they could to help in an industry that is generally focused only on the bottom line.

That was over four years ago, and much has changed in my life since then. I’ve grown up, I am now married, I have done a lot of travelling and yet something was still missing.  For some reason I felt that something was not finished somewhere, a missing passion that I can not access somehow.  And then it happened…

Earth day, April 16th 2009.  I was living in Mexico for the winter where Dorado (or Mahi Mahi) is fished everyday no matter what the size, where prawn boats are out everyday and where tourists pay $200 to deep sea fish only to give their prize away after the thrill was all gone.  My passion suddenly arose and I was finally aware of something that truly matters to me.

I decided that on Earth Day my contribution would be to refrain from eating any seafood for one year.  I created a group on Facebook called “Don’t forget our Oceans” and off I went, trying to spread my message.  I now have 41 members and it has come to a halt.  Probably because groups on facebook are shortly lived attractions and also because I’m not sure how many other people can really not eat seafood for that long.

So I had to adapt.  It’s not about eating seafood, it’s about making better choices and changing demand.  I needed something bigger, something with a better potential to reach more people.  Well…this is it.  An Oceans View was born.  My blog to write, educate and create awareness about sustainability and the welfare of our Oceans.

I hope to give our Oceans a voice in this world by keeping my blog updated with news about conservation, sustainable fishing, related events, anything that will help my cause so that you can be better informed at home.

So that is how it all began, this is the first post of many more to come and I hope you choose to participate with me and share “An Oceans View”.