Our oceans are in peril. Despite the sustainable seafood movement gaining steam globally, the devastation wrought by global industrialized fishing continues on a massive scale. In spite of overwhelming evidence and strong warnings from the scientific community, we continue to plunder our seas.
While the oily gleam of sardines, mackerels, and other small, rapidly-growing fish in wetcase ice is becoming more common, most seafood merchants continue to focus on large, predatory fish such as cod, sharks, and tuna. Globally, populations of these ecologically vital animals have dropped by as much as 90 percent.
Bycatch remains a scandalous problem: each day, an enormous portion of the world’s total seafood catch is tossed over the sides of fishing boats due to inefficient, indiscriminate fishing methods. The worst of the destructive fishing practices, bottom trawling, is responsible for 80 percent of all bycatch incurred globally.
Check out the other Carting Away the Oceans reports here.
