bluefin tuna [General]
2010 Mar 18
"The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) affirmed in October 2009 that Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks are declining dramatically, by 72% in the Eastern Atlantic, and by 82% in the Western Atlantic."
The last time the bluefin tuna popluation was at a sustainable level was in the 1970s. Very, very soon, they will be gone. This horrifies me. How does getting a sushi fix trump lending a hand towards the extinction of a species?
I hate to harp on omnivores but stuff like this just takes it to the next level and makes my blood boil. If you are going to choose to consume meat and seafood, be responsible about it.
The last time the bluefin tuna popluation was at a sustainable level was in the 1970s. Very, very soon, they will be gone. This horrifies me. How does getting a sushi fix trump lending a hand towards the extinction of a species?
I hate to harp on omnivores but stuff like this just takes it to the next level and makes my blood boil. If you are going to choose to consume meat and seafood, be responsible about it.
2010 Mar 18
And it is not just this fish - I've read that the 85% figure is pretty typical for most fish in the ocean. Most of them are gone.
And it is not just individual choices - it is the governments and how big business has more rights than individuals, and how big business trumps everything. We would not want to hurt the economy, afterall ... even if it f**king ends up starving our grandchildren to death for lack of food
And it is not just individual choices - it is the governments and how big business has more rights than individuals, and how big business trumps everything. We would not want to hurt the economy, afterall ... even if it f**king ends up starving our grandchildren to death for lack of food
2010 Mar 19
francis - i'll try not to insert any stereotypes here, but i have to say that your comment left me with my head shaking, and you reinforce my low faith in mankind. i love sushi, but have recently decided to do some research on fish sustainability. I've cut myself off from many of my favourite items as a result, and you know what, there are still many delicious sustainable options remaining.
down with indifference.
down with indifference.
2010 Mar 20
I also find this latest blow against sustainability rather depressing. As Zym says, big business generally gets what it wants, aided and abetted by the governments that it largely controls. Sometimes a grassroots movement can change things for the better, but I don't see much sign of that happening in this instance. The majority of foodies (not to mention the rest of the population) don't seem to factor ethics into their eating choices, so we continue to slip-slide into a future where quality of life will go steadily downhill... for everyone but the obscenely rich, that is.
2010 Mar 21
Well, as it happens I would support a ban, but I wasn't invited to the conference table. :-) Also, I was being sarcastic.
Meat eaters support an industry that is quite cruel and is the largest contributor to greenhouse gases of any sector ! The inputs in water, food and energy to produce a pound of beef are horrendous, and the outputs include methane, a very intense greenhouse gas.
It's not just tuna eaters who are at fault. If you eat meat you are destroying the planet, in an even more terrible way (not just one species, but all of them, including homo sapiens, will be paying a heavy price). We all enjoy our lifestyle fix, and ignore the consequences. It's a species fault.
Meat eaters support an industry that is quite cruel and is the largest contributor to greenhouse gases of any sector ! The inputs in water, food and energy to produce a pound of beef are horrendous, and the outputs include methane, a very intense greenhouse gas.
It's not just tuna eaters who are at fault. If you eat meat you are destroying the planet, in an even more terrible way (not just one species, but all of them, including homo sapiens, will be paying a heavy price). We all enjoy our lifestyle fix, and ignore the consequences. It's a species fault.
2010 Mar 22
I completely agree Francis, which is why I don't consume any type of meat. But, that is a whole 'nother thread :P
Everyone has a hand on various levels, but I'm interested in people taking accountability for the foods that we eat. If you know the danger that the bluefin tunas are in, are decide to eschew that knowledge because of its tastiness, you should expect to be called out. Sorry for jumping the gun since you were being sarcastic - I am rather touchy it seems :P
Everyone has a hand on various levels, but I'm interested in people taking accountability for the foods that we eat. If you know the danger that the bluefin tunas are in, are decide to eschew that knowledge because of its tastiness, you should expect to be called out. Sorry for jumping the gun since you were being sarcastic - I am rather touchy it seems :P
2010 Mar 22
Well I stopped eating meat (terrestrial meat) for a variety of reasons: the environment, health and solidarity with my teenage daughter. Now I don't eat it for another reason - once you've stopped eating it, it doesn't taste that good !
I eat fish about once a week, and turkey once a year (at Thanksgiving).
It's great you gave up meat completely! ( Did you know a vegan driving a hummer has a lower carbon footprint than a meat eater driving a prius? )
So why don't I go vegan completely? Humm . . . good question. My daughter is (she won't even eat gummy bears, because they contain animal protein), and after 3 years it hasn't made her unhealthy. She takes B-12 supplements.
And I know fish are more intelligent that we give them credit for. I have goldfish and I know they recognize me. I feed them and when I pass close to the tank they swim over to glass next to me. They won't do this for anyone else.
Also, I knew a psychologist who owned a piranha. She fed it frozen fish, but once a year it she gave it a feeder goldfish as a treat. One year it didn't eat the feeder goldfish. It got very protective of it and would swim next to it. It was as if it suddenly realized it was another living fish too, and didn't want to harm it. Even when it was hungry it wouldn't eat the goldfish. Unfortunately the goldfish got sick and the disease spread to the piranha and they both died. But it makes you think . . .
I eat fish about once a week, and turkey once a year (at Thanksgiving).
It's great you gave up meat completely! ( Did you know a vegan driving a hummer has a lower carbon footprint than a meat eater driving a prius? )
So why don't I go vegan completely? Humm . . . good question. My daughter is (she won't even eat gummy bears, because they contain animal protein), and after 3 years it hasn't made her unhealthy. She takes B-12 supplements.
And I know fish are more intelligent that we give them credit for. I have goldfish and I know they recognize me. I feed them and when I pass close to the tank they swim over to glass next to me. They won't do this for anyone else.
Also, I knew a psychologist who owned a piranha. She fed it frozen fish, but once a year it she gave it a feeder goldfish as a treat. One year it didn't eat the feeder goldfish. It got very protective of it and would swim next to it. It was as if it suddenly realized it was another living fish too, and didn't want to harm it. Even when it was hungry it wouldn't eat the goldfish. Unfortunately the goldfish got sick and the disease spread to the piranha and they both died. But it makes you think . . .
Francis
www.nytimes.com