Forget the Fish

Jun 7 2009 Sunday Sun

June 8th is World Oceans Day, which provides an opportunity for people to think about their connection to the oceans and how we as individuals can help to protect them.

Until we realise that the oceans do not exist to provide us with an everlasting source of food we will continue to plunder (and destroy) one of the Earth’s most essential ecosystems.

Research suggests that at the current fishing rates, in less than 40 years there will be no more fish left in the sea, which would have a devastating impact on the health of our oceans and therefore the planet and us!

Seventy five per cent of the world’s fisheries have been identified by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation as being either, fully exploited, overexploited or significantly depleted.

There may still be fish populations that are sustainable, but for how long? And fish farming is not the answer, as it takes around five tons of wild caught fish to grow one ton of farmed fish.

The only sustainable and ethical answer is to stop eating fish altogether. There are plant-based alternatives to all the nutrients fish can provide and they don’t come laden with PCBs, dioxins and mercury that are present in the planet's polluted oceans.

Making small modifications to your everyday habits will greatly benefit the planet and, therefore, you. Contact Animal Aid for a FREE Go Veggie Guide. www.animalaid.org.uk. Tel: 01732 364546. - KELLY SLADE, Campaigns Officer, World Oceans Day

* WHAT DO YOU THINK? Last week Sunday Sun columnist Ken Oxley expressed scepticism about claims made by those behind World Oceans Day. Was he right to do so, or could the oceans really be empty in 40 years? Should we follow this organisation’s advice and "stop eating fish altogether"?

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