Ending mixed signals
7th February, 2008 London
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is to review its advice on eating fish in light of the growing evidence that global fish stocks are in peril. The FSA’s long-overdue review reflects growing concern about the sustainability of fish stocks and the wider environmental impact of fishing and fish farming. EJF believes that the FSA’s current message of ‘eat more fish’ has long been sending the wrong message to consumers, and welcomes the FSA review. EJF contends that the FSA should make clear, simple and consumer friendly recommendations that explicitly recognise the threat to our oceans from unsustainable fishing and consumption. Globally over 70% of the world’s fisheries are either over exploited, fully exploited or in decline, and 90% of each of the worlds large ocean species like UK favourites cod, tuna and halibut have been lost since the 1950’s. Approximately 450 million people around the world depend directly on fisheries for food and employment, especially in poorer countries. Before fish can again become a regular part of all our diets, stocks must be given the chance to recover. To achieve this up to 40% of the world’s maritime ecosystems must be set aside for protection, and closed over extended periods while fish stocks are monitored and allowed to recover. These protected areas can then act as reserves of healthy fish stocks that will spill over into fishing zones. The fishing zones themselves must be fished sustainably, eliminating both destructive and illegal fishing methods. No one is saying that we must never eat fish, but until marine environments are properly protected and managed we must scale back our consumption, and be prepared to pay a higher price for seafood that has been certified as sustainably caught. If proper protection and management are achieved, we will all be able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fish, as well as ensuring the long term health of our oceans and the fishermen and communities that depend on them. To learn more about defending our oceans visit http://www.ejfoundation.org/page357.html |
