Fish Food 4 Thought

     Today, April 22nd, is obviously Earth Day, a 51-year-old holiday that has become the epitome of environmental education in the United States and around much of the world. However, there are many other holidays related to marine life and environmental protection in general that are worth noting: World Love For Dolphins Day: February 14th (since 2014). World Whale Day: February 21st (since 1980). World Wildlife Day: March 3rd (since 2013). World Seal Day: March 22nd (since 2020). Manatee Appreciation Day: last Wednesday in March (since 1981). Arbor Day: last Friday in April (since 1872). World Tuna Day: May 2nd (since 2019). World Otter Day: May 22nd (since 2020). World Biodiversity Day: May 22nd (since 2000). World Turtle Day: May 23rd (since 2000). World Sea Lion Day: May 30th (since 2018). World Reef Day: June 1st (since 2020). World Environment Day: June 5th (since 1974). International Day Of Action Against IUU Fishing: June 5th (since 2017). World Oceans Day: June 8th (since 20

     Two species of manatee are being wiped out by fishing. Many are familiar with the Antillean (usually referred to as the "Florida") manatee and the threats it faces from industrial runoff and other pollution in addition to boat strikes.      However, two equally unique and beautiful creatures grace the saline waters at the basin of the Amazon and the plethora of rivers and bays along coastal West Africa, more colloquially-appropriately named the Amazonian and African manatees, respectively. These species are even worse off, for the places they call home are subject to equal attack with less will and capability on the parts of government to create rules and enforce existing ones.      In West Africa, locals use manatee parts for pseudo medicinal potions and tonics as well as novelty items. However, the bigger threat caused by direct hunting is hunting for meat and entanglement in fishing gear. With industrial fishing causing declines of 30-90% in fish populations that impo

     Petitions don't exactly have a stellar reputation among the environmental community or the activist community at large, but, utilized properly and with a variety of other tools, they can be an effective and powerful method of change. Case in point: Seaspiracy.      The anti-fishing documentary was released in March 2021. Within a week, it was in the Top 10 on Netflix in more than 30 countries, earning as much praise as it caused controversy in the form of literally hundreds of articles in major and minor news outlets: the fishing industry was on the defensive even before the documentary was released.      Seizing on this momentum, Ali and Lucy Tabrizi launched a petition to officials in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and numerous other nations demanding 30 percent of the oceans be protected from industrial fishing by 2030. Thailand shot itself in the foot by blocking the petition in their nation (innocent people have nothing to hide), which was among

     Believe it or not, the European Union is contributing to the cruel slaughter of millions of sharks around the world every year. While shark finning, the act of cutting the fins off of live sharks and throwing them in the water to drown (all for luxury soup with no nutritional value) has been banned in European waters, the trade in shark fins has not been.        As long as this situation remains the same, the European Union (as well as the rest of Europe) will continue to be a problem for sharks, as well as their close relatives, skates and rays. Luckily, there is a way for the people of the world to make a direct impact. Stopfinning.eu , a nonprofit, has launched a citizen's initiative in which European Union residents can directly vote to ban the trade. It will not be easy: a million people need to vote and minimum thresholds need to be met from at least seven EU countries to force a debate and vote on the matter.      However, progress is already being made. Just this month

      Operation Icefish  represented a turning point in human history. Sea Shepherd broke the record for the longest maritime pursuit when they chased the toothfish poaching vessel Thunder  for 110 days from the frigid seas of Antarctica to the coast of West Africa. They confiscated 75 km of net and boarded the vessel to retrieve evidence when it sank itself to avoid prosecution. The captain and officers of the vessel were sentenced to two to six years in prison and the company was fined more than $30 million. Sea Shepherd later provided information that resulted in the arrest of four other "Bandit 6" vessels before chasing the Viking to Indonesia, where it was blown up by authorities. Effectively ending illegal fishing in Antarctica, none of these vessels poached again, and this case has been cited by INTERPOL and other global law enforcement bodies.      During the course of the second year of Operation Icefish, Sea Shepherd stumbled upon a fleet of illegal driftnet vessels