Josh Fink Contemplates Problem with Sustainable Fishing

A new article from The Huffington Post sheds light on the difficulties that are associated with denoting sustainable seafood, or products that have come from industry-regulated practices. While more consumers are searching for this type of sustainable seafood, it has become difficult to determine exactly what type of products fall into this category, thus making sustainable shopping a challenge. Fisherman Josh Fink explains that consumers must become educated when purchasing seafood. He also notes that the industry must work to create a better way of denoting sustainable products from those that come from illegal practices.

The article explains that in a survey completed by NPR, 3,000 individuals offered their opinions on seafood labeling. The results showed that 80 percent of Americans felt it was "important" or "very important" that seafood was caught using sustainable methods. The survey defined the term sustainable as "still being plentiful for future generations, and caught using methods that did minimal harm to other animals in the sea."

The Marine Stewardship Council label is often how consumers determine whether a product is sustainable, but even this form of information can be misleading. The MSC label was awarded to McDonald's Alaskan Pollack, even though some reports indicate that Pollack stocks are only "moderately healthy" and suffer from declining numbers.

This ambiguous definition of sustainable seafood becomes problematic for consumers. Josh Fink offers his thoughts on the matter, "While many purchasers have good intentions when it comes to buying fish, it's often difficult to know exactly what you're buying. It becomes even more difficult when you have little to no knowledge about the industry. This is why those who purchase seafood regularly should take some time to understand the idea of sustainability, in order to make more educated purchasing choices. At the same time, the industry needs to work to create a standard, thus making it easy for consumers who are interested in supporting healthy fishing practices."

Though the industry lacks a unifying standard that works to define exactly what products fall into the category of "sustainable," some companies are taking action to promote legal practices. Whole Foods announced last year that it would stop selling unsustainable fish, using the MSC as a guide. Unfortunately, while companies like Wal-Mart have also tried to embrace sustainable seafood, this has actually become a negative for the industry. Critics explain that the MSC has lowered its standards regarding what is classified as sustainable in order to keep up with Wal-Mart's massive demands.

ABOUT:

Josh Fink is an outdoor enthusiast who spends much of his free time snowshoeing, canoeing, fishing, and hiking. He has also summited some of the world's most impressive peaks, including Mount Everest and Kilimanjaro.

Website: http://joshfink.net/

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Josh Fink Contemplates Problem with Sustainable Fishing

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Can we put a price on nature?

Launch of earth debates - flagship event series in preparation of Rio+20

The vital role of our environment within our economy has been hidden until recently. Pollinating crops, balancing our water distribution and even providing genetic resources for our medicine are just a few examples of the life-support that natural resources provide. Yet with no market value, they are consumed freely.

Tools for calculating some of these natural services are now being developed in Ecosystem Economics and are already influencing global environmental policy. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) study, launched in 2007 by the Federal Environment Ministry and commissioner for the Environment in the European Commission, transformed the way nature is valued, and the costs of its loss. For example, the report estimates the loss of bees and other insects pollinating our crops, to be 153 billion Euros every year, representing 9.5% of world agricultural output in 2005. This brings to light some key questions: What are the strengths of this emerging understanding and what are the risks? To what extent will the new economics of ecosystem services change our attitudes towards sustainable development?

Tackling these issues, in a Question Time format, were panellists Professor Sir Robert Watson (Chief Scientific Advisor to Defra), Will Evison (Environmental Economist, PricewaterhouseCoopers), Ian Dickie (Director, Aldersgate Group) and Claire Brown (Senior Programme Officer Ecosystem Services and Assessment, UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre). The panellists provided a rich range of insights from the scientific, policy, business and civil society perspectives. Held at the Natural History Museum and chaired by The Guardians Former Science Editor, Tim Radford, the debate was available via a live web-cast on the Natural History Museum website.

The Natural History Museum, Stakeholder Forum and The British Council launched the Earth Debates series to drive momentum and contribute to discussions surrounding the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), also known as Rio+20, happening in Brazil 20-22 June 2012. The direct descendent of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, Rio+20 is being held at the highest political level and will bring together Heads of State and Government decision makers to generate a new global vision for sustainable development.

This flagship series of debates will bring together high level representatives from key sectors including Government, non-government, civil society and business and tackle key issues at the heart of Rio+20 the global transition to a fair and green economy agenda.

The great challenge in creating a sustainable future is understanding and living within the natural limits of our planet. Holding this debate in the heart of the Natural History Museum recognises the crucial role for science evidence of global change in realising the goals of Rio+20 said Dr Michael Dixon, Director, The Natural History Museum, London.

The benefits that we get from nature such as flood control, pollination services and clean air have often been taken for granted because we get them for free. Through TEEB and the UK National Ecosystem Assessment we now have a much greater appreciation of the true value of nature, which is now being embedded into the big decisions facing Government. There is a clear need to better manage our ecosystems, and Government, the private sector and the public will need to work together to ensure we protect what nature provides. said Professor Sir Bob Watson, Chief Scientist at Defra.

The next Earth Debates will focus on:

22 February 2012 Beyond GDP how to measure progress?
14 March 2012 Green cities in a green economy - how to pioneer a sustainable transition?
11 April 2012 Food security how to feed the population in 2050?

For more information visit: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/biodiversity/earth-debates/

Notes for editors
In addition to being a top tourist attraction the Natural History Museum is a world-leading science research centre. Through its collections and scientific expertise, the Museum is helping to conserve the extraordinary richness and diversity of the natural world, with groundbreaking projects in more than 70 countries.

News source: WebWire

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Can we put a price on nature?

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