Sustainable Fishing

Improved Essays
Of today’s many important environmental issues, sustainable fishing must take top priority to ensure vital future oceanic resources. If we discount sustainable practices, we are ignoring our world’s largest resource. Over 70 percent of the world is covered by water and as a nation, we consume 4.8 billion pounds of seafood (NOAA, 2016). We cannot afford to waste resources that are well within our power to save and conserve. We have many organizations that conduct aquatic research on our behalf regarding sustainability. For this reason, the past “I didn’t know” excuse is no longer a justifiable one. Organizations like The Monterey Bay Aquarium and the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration are building a firm argument for supporting sustainable fisheries around the world and here in the United States. By opposing tough regulations and rules …show more content…
One organization that is committed to ocean conservation is The Monterey Bay Aquarium located in Monterey, California. Not only do they provide critical research into the health of oceans to scientists all over the world, but they provide a list of sustainable fish that restaurant owners, chefs and wholesalers can market for the public. The Seafood Watch Program, established by The Monterey Bay Aquarium in 1999, is used as a guide all over North America to assist in making sound decisions on where to buy seafood and what type is safe to consume. This information is imperative, as “90% of seafood sold in the United States is imported" (The Monterey Bay Aquarium, 2016). Their determination to end unsustainable and criminal fishing practices was clear when they partnered with a U.S. Presidential Task Force. Not only does this help combat illegal and unsustainable fishing practices, but back up the point that it is a top priority even with the President of the United

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