Joshua Reichert, managing director of the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement in response to a significant new direction in ocean management announced by President Barack Obama today.
"Today the President took a major step forward to protect the nation's ocean resources and environment. It is now widely recognized that the health of the oceans is in decline from a variety of uses and abuses. We have long had the need for a more comprehensive way to manage our ocean resources that takes into account the marine system as a whole, rather than focusing simply on its individual parts. With today's announcement, we finally have the political leadership to make this long-sought goal a reality.
"Six years ago, the Pew Oceans Commission recommended a national ocean policy as critical to maintaining and sustaining America's marine environment. Today, the President has seized the opportunity not just to change the way we manage marine resources, but to transform our society's perspective about the sea from one of simple exploitation to that of careful, science-based stewardship of this critically important economic and environmental resource."
Among its cardinal recommendations, the Pew Oceans Commission called for establishing an enforceable national policy to protect, maintain and restore the health of marine ecosystems. This will not only support economically and culturally valuable fisheries, but also provide countless recreational opportunities for the public and protect critically important ecological services, such as air and water purification.
The Pew Environment Group is the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-governmental organization that applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improving public policy, informing the public and stimulating civic life.
Overfishing defined: catching so many fish that too few are left in the ocean to reproduce at rates that can sustain a healthy population.
This overfishing definition has given way to a newer term of "Sustainable Seafood." Sustainable Seafood is seafood either fished or farmed in a manner that can sustain (maintain or increase) production in the future without harming ecosystems. The sustainable seafood movement is gaining momentum as awareness increases about overfishing and environmentally destructive fishing methods.
Fish farming in state waters (up to three miles from shore) is currently regulated by the states, and rules vary widely. In federal waters (from three to 200 miles from shore) there is no current legislation to guide the development fish farming.
Wildlife Extra just released an article about overfishing and the theory that overfishing may be the cause of mass marine stranding.
The article states a number of theories, but in terms of overfishing they specifically had this to say, "In general, marine mammals only do a number of things out at sea: they eat, they sleep, they play and they mate. They can sleep, play or mate just about anywhere. However, they can only eat where there is food. Various scientific studies conducted here in the Philippines indicate that our seas are overfished. One study has estimated that, in certain fishing zones, we have consumed 90% of our fish stocks over the last 60 years."
Yesterday, the Ocean Conservancy launches a new online platform to track the major steps in the progression of wild-caught seafood from the ocean to the consumer - from fishery to fork. The site, is designed to highlight the roles and opportunities for fishery managers and policy makers, fishermen, retailers and consumers and others to improve the sustainability of our seafood throughout the industry. Ocean Conservancy has been working for decades to improve the way we fish, working from fishery to fork we engage with individuals, companies and decision makers to implement responsible management plans that invest in the future of U.S. fishing.
In short, due to overfishing fish populations and entire ecosystems are dwindling.
The seas must be allowed to recover.
Ocean Conservancy is the world's foremost advocate for the oceans. Through science-based advocacy, research, and public education, we inform, inspire and empower people to speak and act for the oceans. Ocean Conservancy is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has offices in New England, Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific, with support from more than half a million members and volunteers. To learn more about Ocean Conservancy visit www.oceanconservancy.org.
