Warnings that stocks of common sea fish will have been hunted to commercial extinction in the next 40 years through over-fishing practices, the mismanagement of fisheries and over-consumption have added real urgency to Bite-Back’s campaign.
Already it has proved that plans to regulate reserves by way of a consumer-enforced, retailer-led marine conservation programme can work.
The latest report from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, states that if the current rate of over-fishing continues, the world's fished seafoods will have reached what is defined as ‘collapse’ by 2048. By then the volume of catches will have declined, on average, by more than 90 per cent since 1950.
The four-year study of 7,800 marine species concluded that the long-term trend is clear and predictable.However, Bite-Back stresses it is avoidable.
Campaign director at Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “The ugly truth is so close now, we can see the white of its eyes. It is down to everyday consumers and retailers to stand up and commit to a programme that avoids catastrophe and embraces sustainability. It is time to tether the developed world’s fishing boats and for entire nations to consider their misguided certainty that the oceans could keep up with ever increasing fishing pressure.
“Only when all groups – fishermen, processors, retailers and consumers –regard seafood in the same way as sustainable trees, for example, will we stand a chance of getting the balance right and be enlightened enough to practice judicious fishing.”
The report clearly identifies that over-fishing also sabotages the stability of marine environments, profoundly reducing the ocean's ability to produce seafood, resist diseases, filter pollutants and rebound from stresses such as climate change.
Dr Boris Worm, the lead author of the report, said: “Every year a higher percentage of the currently fished stocks has collapsed. We are losing it piece by piece."
Part of the apocalyptic projection rests on the forecast that the world's population is expected to rise by 50 per cent, to nine billion, by 2050. Since over-consumption alone fuels over-fishing, Bite-Back is adamant that consumers and commercial organisations should dramatically ease up on the volume of fish consumed.
The UK’s fastest growing shark and marine conservation organisation is quick to remind consumers that sea fish remain the only wild product commercially available and urges concerned shoppers and supporters to lobby supermarkets and restaurants to stop selling inherently vulnerable species while there’s still a chance to make a positive impact.
Bite-Back predicts that five fish – shark, swordfish, marlin, monkfish and orange roughy – will be at the forefront of this underwater genocide. That’s why its highly influential email campaign focuses explicitly on these species.
Fundamental to the success of its programme is the realisation that retailers can actively control the way the oceans are fished, simply by choosing which fish to supply and when. Graham Buckingham said: “Retailers and restaurants are the judge, jury and executioners in this scenario. The future of the oceans rests squarely at the door of commerce. We must do everything possible to encourage them to take this responsibility seriously.”
Already its online campaign has encouraged ASDA to stop selling shark throughout its network and has helped prompt Tesco and Sainsbury’s to drop swordfish and marlin from stores and shelves respectively. In addition, Waitrose has now stopped selling orange roughy in the UK.
Already it has proved that plans to regulate reserves by way of a consumer-enforced, retailer-led marine conservation programme can work.
The latest report from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, states that if the current rate of over-fishing continues, the world's fished seafoods will have reached what is defined as ‘collapse’ by 2048. By then the volume of catches will have declined, on average, by more than 90 per cent since 1950.
The four-year study of 7,800 marine species concluded that the long-term trend is clear and predictable.However, Bite-Back stresses it is avoidable.
Campaign director at Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “The ugly truth is so close now, we can see the white of its eyes. It is down to everyday consumers and retailers to stand up and commit to a programme that avoids catastrophe and embraces sustainability. It is time to tether the developed world’s fishing boats and for entire nations to consider their misguided certainty that the oceans could keep up with ever increasing fishing pressure.
“Only when all groups – fishermen, processors, retailers and consumers –regard seafood in the same way as sustainable trees, for example, will we stand a chance of getting the balance right and be enlightened enough to practice judicious fishing.”
The report clearly identifies that over-fishing also sabotages the stability of marine environments, profoundly reducing the ocean's ability to produce seafood, resist diseases, filter pollutants and rebound from stresses such as climate change.
Dr Boris Worm, the lead author of the report, said: “Every year a higher percentage of the currently fished stocks has collapsed. We are losing it piece by piece."
Part of the apocalyptic projection rests on the forecast that the world's population is expected to rise by 50 per cent, to nine billion, by 2050. Since over-consumption alone fuels over-fishing, Bite-Back is adamant that consumers and commercial organisations should dramatically ease up on the volume of fish consumed.
The UK’s fastest growing shark and marine conservation organisation is quick to remind consumers that sea fish remain the only wild product commercially available and urges concerned shoppers and supporters to lobby supermarkets and restaurants to stop selling inherently vulnerable species while there’s still a chance to make a positive impact.
Bite-Back predicts that five fish – shark, swordfish, marlin, monkfish and orange roughy – will be at the forefront of this underwater genocide. That’s why its highly influential email campaign focuses explicitly on these species.
Fundamental to the success of its programme is the realisation that retailers can actively control the way the oceans are fished, simply by choosing which fish to supply and when. Graham Buckingham said: “Retailers and restaurants are the judge, jury and executioners in this scenario. The future of the oceans rests squarely at the door of commerce. We must do everything possible to encourage them to take this responsibility seriously.”
Already its online campaign has encouraged ASDA to stop selling shark throughout its network and has helped prompt Tesco and Sainsbury’s to drop swordfish and marlin from stores and shelves respectively. In addition, Waitrose has now stopped selling orange roughy in the UK.
1 comment:
I didn't know about this site; thanks for posting it.
Cathy
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