Cooking fish is a true joy. Eating fish is equally rewarding. Fish, with all its healthy fats, essential oils, and nutrients, fits in nicely in a balanced diet. However, on an exceptionally primeval level, it just tastes first-rate. The fishing industry is gigantic. I mean worldwide, vital to the survival of humankind, gigantic. All right, that last bit was a little hyperbole, but not much.
These days, with everyone wanting to “live green,” one of the issues that does not get enough publicity is the sustainability of fish. Our oceans are in crisis. Oceans supply us with food, help normalize our climate, and provide a source of revenue for millions of people. Humans have been fishing the ocean for thousands of years. Nevertheless, technology has allowed us to fish deeper and farther than ever before. Some methods are incredibly efficient, while others have us on the verge of disaster.
Dredging the ocean bottom with tires and chain-mesh is are the principal method for harvesting groundfish, scallops, and clams. Many marine biologists believe that this method of fishing harms the ocean more than any other endeavor. As with countless other issues in life, there are conflicting reports about the long term damage being done by this method. However, incidental catch, net-pen farming, habitat modification, and ocean dumping are undoubtedly having a caustic effect on the oceans' ecosystems.
When purchasing fish I always look for line-caught products. Catching fish by longline, hook and line, or turtle-safe and dolphin-safe nets is far less damaging to the ocean environment.
Overfishing of certain types of fish is another big concern. The ocean cannot provide an infinite supply of fish. If a fish is caught at a much faster rate than it can reproduce… there will come a time when it will cease to exist. A good example is Chilean Sea Bass. That is a marketing moniker, by the way: the real name of that particular species of fish is Patagonian Toothfish. This fish has enjoyed intense popularity in the restaurant industry mainly because it is an especially lenient fish to cook. The flesh can withstand longer cooking times without drying out. As you can imagine, this makes it very attractive to lazy, incompetent cooks looking for an easy way out.
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Nancy Batts
Wow, what a wonderful, informative and important article! It seems that lots of people who eat fish don't realize the crisis that our oceans are in.
I recently saw a wonderful Discovery Channel t.v. documentary on the subject titled, "Wild Pacific," and it scared the living daylights out of me. At one point in the piece, it asserted that fishing vessels catch in one day what used to take one month to catch 50 years ago! Also, fishing nets are so vast, they can be seen from outer space! If that's not overfishing, I don't know what is.
Greenpeace also dedicates much of its resources to preserving our oceans, and I urge you to check out their website as well.
Lazaro, thanks for writing out such an important topic! I hope many are enlightened and educated by it, I know I was!
2 - RJ
Great article. Overfishing is a serious problem.
3 - LazaroCooks
RJ...Thank you for taking the time to comment. Agreed! It is a massive problem.
4 - LazaroCooks
Nancy...You are absolutely right about Greenpeace. They are a valueable source of information. Thank you for taking time to read my article.
5 - roger nowosielski
Another spam attack, Editors, by Lazaro.
Can we make him go away?
6 - Lisa McKay
Roger, if you'd bother to take a look at the top of the page, you'll notice that Lazaro is a writer here, not a spammer. Try to pay attention.
7 - roger nowosielski
Well, he's still spamming, Lisa, judging by a number of comments on diverse threads.
You may have more time on your hands than I, but I don't certainly cherish looking up every single commenter. It looked like a spam to me, hence my comment.
If I am wrong, fine. But your attitude of trying to reprimand me is bad form, especially when you're telling me to "try to pay attention."
I see no reason for this kind of defensiveness. Do you?
8 - Lisa McKay
Roger, if you define "spamming" as making a large number of comments on diverse threads, then I'm afraid you're guilty as charged.
And I'm not being defensive; I'm merely pointing out your error in calling a fellow writer and a member of the BC community a spammer.
9 - roger nowosielski
I don't define it, Lisa, by making a large number of comments, but I do define it by making a large number of superficial comments.
As to pointing out my "error," you surely could have done it in a less adversarial way than by telling me "to pay attention."
Indeed, if I'm wrong, I stand corrected. It's your manner of responding that I find objectionable.
10 - LazaroCooks
roger nowosielski...Who are you?! Do you not have anything better to do than stress about me?! I would recommed a hobby of some sort. A spammer?! No just an avid reader and writer. Wonderful welcome to blogcritics I guess.
11 - RJ
I'm not sure what Roger's problem is, but I found this to be a good article about a serious issue.
One of the greatest environmental problems we face is overfishing. I would love to see environmentalists focus more on this legitimate issue than they do on more questionable theories such as AGW.
If the planet's temperature increases a couple degrees over the next century, and some portion of that increase is due to human factors, that might be a problem. But the absolute rape of our oceans is without question a serious problem, and one that will have a huge impact on all our lives in the near future.
12 - LazaroCooks
RJ...I hear you. I don't know what this dude's problem is. If you don't like the article, it's an opinion, whatever. But calling me a "spammer"...WTF is that all about?! Not much in the way of incentive to contribute to BC. Thank you by the way RJ...for reading the article and commenting.
13 - roger nowosielski
Hey, Lazarro, get a life.
I thought you were a spammer. Now I know better. So what else do you care to say?
14 - LazaroCooks
Well...just spell my name correctly next time. Have a happy & blessed Easter Sunday...roger nowosielski
15 - roger nowosielski
Same to you, Lazaro. And I apologize for the fact that I addressed this remark to you.
RJ was the intended recipient.
16 - roger nowosielski
Actually, you too, Lazaro, decided to call me on my mistake. Well, my remark was directed at you as well.
Happy Easter.
17 - LazaroCooks
Roger...My olvie branch extended. Can we be friends now?
18 - Lili Q
Lazaro, thank you for explaining in such detail what it means to to repect our ocean environment and how if affects ocean life. We need more people as your self to be vocal and educate, so we can leave the beautiful oceans we enjoyed in our youth to our children and grandchildren.
19 - roger nowosielski
Hey, no problem, Lazaro. It was a simple misunderstanding. I've seen spam attacks lately and I raised the flag, that's all.
I don't mind being corrected.
20 - El Bicho
Good article. Hope you write more in the same vein.
"I do define it by making a large number of superficial comments."
Last I checked no one appointed you judge around here, Roger. And you are certainly the last one to complain about a large number of pointless comments considering your output.
21 - zingzing
el b, let it go... they kissed and made up.
22 - roger nowosielski
LB,
Don't get exercised for nothing. Not only is it a waste of time; it doesn't speak well of your intellectual acumen.
I believe I have straightened this out with Lazaro, he accepted my apology, and as far as I am concerned, that's all that matters. Consequently, you comments after the fact are way past due.
Get a grip, get a life, whatever. Get back to your basketball game and be a good boy.
23 - roger nowosielski
No, zing. It seems as though LB has got an axe to grind. So let him!
24 - LazaroCooks
El Bicho...Oye glad you liked the article. Looking forward to following your movie reviews...Dale!
25 - Olithia Rose
Thanks for this article Lazaro. I don't know if you've heard of the Salmon Safe which is based out in the Pacific Northwest. I found out about it on Food and Wine Seminar I went on and its a great program that has helped with restoring water quality as well as salmon habitats. I think that something like that should be implemented in other major fishing industry regions.