
Of all the environmental issues I have been rallying for for years, this may be the most mortifying- only matched with the almost irreparable issue of deforestation:
Ocean Dead Zones.
The Problem
Here are the facts brought to you by losing nemo:
“90% of all large fish have disappeared since 1950s”
The amount of large predatory fish in the world’s ocean is today only about 10% of what the population levels were before large scale industrial fishing techniques were introduced in the 1950s. Check the source
“40% of sea life caught is discarded as waste”
It is estimated that 38.5 million tonnes of sea life that is caught annually, also known as ‘bycatch’, is discarded as waste, representing approximately 40 percent of the estimated global annual catch. Check the source
“The oceans will be empty by 2048″
Loss of ocean biodiversity is accelerating, with 29 percent of seafood species humans consume already crashed. If overfishing continues, in 3 decades there will be little or no seafood available as fish populations are under increased threat. Check the source
“$25 billion of subsidies for industry annually”
Analysis by fisheries researchers at the University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre suggests that global fisheries subsidies in 2003 ranged between US $25-$29 billion. Check the source
“Up to 2 trillion sea animals killed annually”
Nearly 70% of the fish caught globally tonnage has a corresponding estimated mean weight (EMW), including single and multi-species categories. Analysing this data estimates a total of 0.97-2.74 trillion individual animals caught annually. Check the source
“Idea of sustainable fishing is under pressure”
Seafood stewardship in crisis. The main consumer-targeted certification scheme for sustainable fisheries is failing to protect the environment and needs radical reform, say a number of prominent fisheries scientists and researchers. Check the source
“The oceans will be populated by jellyfish”
Human-induced stresses of overfishing, eutrophication, climate change, translocation and habitat modification appear to be promoting jellyfish (pelagic cnidarian and ctenophore) blooms to the detriment of other marine organisms. Check the source
Cowspiracy
3/4 of the world’s fisheries are exploited or depleted. (x)
We could see fishless oceans by 2048 (x)
90-100 million tons of fish are pulled from our oceans each year. (x)
As many as 2.7 trillion animals are pulled from the ocean each year. (x)
As many as 40% (63 billion pounds) of fish caught globally every year are discarded. (x)
Scientists estimate as many as 650,000 whales, dolphins and seals are killed every year by fishing vessels. (x)
The Solution
Stop eating fish. Tell everyone you know to stop eating fish. There are many vegan fish products you can purchase that will not fund ocean dead zones and most probably a full on environmental collapse. Even if eating fish wasn’t going to empty the ocean, fishing nets kill 1,000 marine mammals a day. Fishing on the beach draws sharks to shore that could hurt humans and fish, actually isn’t all that good for you.
So please, go vegan. Go fish free, tell your friends and family to follow suit. Save our marine life.
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