Think of the last time your eyes were opened to something that scared the hell out of you.
Got it?
Now find a way to see The End of the Line, the world’s first documentary about the devastating effect of overfishing that describes what is really going on in the deep, unseen oceans around the globe. After seeing the devastation man and technology have been inflicting on one marine ecosystem or species after another, you will quickly recognize that feeling of being scared straight.
After all, what you will be facing is the very real possibility of a world without fish.
Think about that for a moment.
Some experts are predicting this will happen by 2048 if things don’t change, which means it will take place within most of our lifetimes.
How is this possible? Wouldn’t we have heard about this by now if it was so dire? I had the same questions, but the facts in the film paint a picture that includes a view of the end of the line:
- Current global fishing fleet could catch world supply of fish four times over – every year!
- 1.4 billion hooks are being set annually, enough to circle the globe 550 times
- Bluefin tuna catch used to be in the thousands; in last 10 years the catch has declined by 80 percent
- Fishing industry is disregarding ICCAT 29,500 ton quota on bluefin tuna; actual catch near 60,000 tons; scientists believe catch of 10,000 tons is necessary to allow recovery of species to begin
- One-tenth of what is caught is thrown back, often already dead
Its difficult to comprehend all the things that would be impacted by such a catastrophe. Most obvious to people is the impact it would have on feeding an increasingly hungry world. With over one billion people already malnourished, and the global population expected to reach nine billion people by 2050, the impact of significant declines in fish as food would be devastating.
Thankfully, The End of the Line identifies clear paths forward to stop and then reverse 80-90 percent declines in catches of many popular species, including the bluefin tuna, cod, numerous species of sharks and more.
For most of us, the best thing we can do is become aware of what is happening. Knowledge is power. And the fastest and easiest way to do that is to see The End of the Line.
In the meantime, please consider visiting one or more of the following links to begin taking real, everyday actions:
Right on! You can see evidence of advances in seafood and aquaculture in many place like Wegmans and Wholefoods.
It was wonderful to be part of one of the largest organic sustainable seafood iniatives in North America recently that started in 2007 and is now rolling out.
Thanks,
Tim
Seafoods include seawater animals, such as fish and shellfish (including molluscs and crustaceans).[1] By extension, in North America although not generally in the United Kingdom, the term seafood is also applied to similar animals from fresh water and all edible aquatic animals are collectively referred to as seafood. Seafood is an important source of protein in many diets around the world, especially in coastal areas.
A world without fish would be a world without people. Is there anybody left who does not understand how interconnected we all are?
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