Of the world's major commercial fisheries, those targeting large
predatory species - which include some of our favourite seafood,
such as cod, tuna, halibut and swordfish - have declined by 90 per
cent of their numbers in the '50s.
Destructive fishing practices including bottom trawling and
dredging lead to the capture of about 27 million tonnes of marine
life "accidentally" each year, most of which is thrown back into
the ocean dead or dying
Global fishing capacity is 2.5-times greater than what it would
take to sustainably harvest fish stocks
Currently, 76% of commercially valuable fish stocks are either
fully exploited, over-exploited or depleted.
Seafood consumption in Canada is between nine and 10 kilograms,
about 6 kg per person of which are purchased from the retail
sector. Sixty-three per cent of seafood available for consumption
in Canada is sold in supermarkets. Supermarkets are a key link in
the supply chain between the producer and the consumer.
Contrary to industry reports, aquaculture, as it is currently
practiced, is not the solution. As the aquaculture industry
intensifies, so does nutrient pollution, ecosystem impact and the
transfer of disease and parasites to wild stocks in Canadian and
international waters.
Currently very few species sold in Canada are certified by the
most well-known certification, Marine Stewardship Council, and
Greenpeace does not at this time consider any existing
certification to be adequate.
An investigation into the top eight supermarket chains in Canada
revealed that none have a purchasing policy in place relating to
seafood and few are moving forward at all in addressing the global
decline of fish stocks.
All of the supermarkets included in the investigation are
selling many of the species in need of immediate attention.
Certain supermarkets, including Wal-Mart, Overwaitea and the
Thrifty division of Sobey's, have taken first steps towards more
sustainable seafood procurement practices.
Of the major supermarkets selling Redlist fish, both Loblaws
(which holds 32 per cent of the market share) and Sobey's (holding
15 per cent) sell all of the Redlist species.
- Redlist species sold in Canadian supermarkets the most at risk
of commercial extinction include:
- Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
- stocks declined by 90 per cent since the '70s and the North
Atlantic stock is almost commercially extinct.
- Atlantic Halibut
- significant declines and a species of special concern in the
U.S.
- Atlantic Cod
- commercial extinction, endangered and other listing of some
stocks.
- Sharks
- overall decline to 10 per cent of previous levels and many
species listed as endangered or threatened.
- Skates
- some species extirpated while others on endangered, threatened
or special concern species lists.
- Orange Roughy
- vulnerable species, stock declines.
- New Zealand Hoki
- stock declines.
The most consumed and imported Redlist species is tropical
shrimp, whose farming and catch methods are wreaking havoc on
mangrove forests, marine ecosystems, fresh water supply, and the
health of many coastal communities.
Redlist species were chosen based on criteria relating to the
stock status, species vulnerability and environmental impact.