Back to the overfishing conundrum, I just received an email from Elizabeth Ouzts of Environment NC:

Hi ,

 

The Pacific leatherback turtle is on the brink of extinction. 

 

There are only 350 northern right whales left off the Atlantic coast. 

 

Red snapper populations in the Gulf of Mexico are down to 5 percent of the species’ historical numbers.

 

The list of wildlife threatened by overfishing goes on and on.

Help reverse the decades of damage from overfishing by sending the administration a message that overfishing must stop. 

 

https://www.environmentamerica.org/action/oceans/comment?id4=ES

 

With your help in 2006, we convinced Congress to pass a bill to put an end to decades of overfishing in our oceans. It’s a tough law, and it holds everyone who fishes accountable, including the big industrial fishing companies.

 

If the president honors the spirit of the law, it could put an end to overfishing. Period. No excuses.

 

But as with a lot of laws, powerful special interests — in this case the commercial fishing businesses — are fighting back to water down the effectiveness of the law.

 

We need your help to put the pressure on the Bush administration to offset those powerful interests and their lobbyists. 

 

https://www.environmentamerica.org/action/oceans/comment?id4=ES

 

It will take thousands of comments from people across the country to convince the administration to keep the law strong. And the comment period is up in just five days.

 

If you took action last week, thank you. You can help now by sending this e-mail to five friends. If you didn’t take action, please do it today.

 

Together, we’ll be one huge voice calling for an immediate end to overfishing and strong rules to protect the health of our oceans.

 

Thanks for making it all possible.

 

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Ouzts
Environment North Carolina State Director
ElizabethO@environmentnorthcarolina.org
http://www.environmentnorthcarolina.org

I just thought I would share, as it really fits with my recent focus on the Ocean.  Blue is the new green!

Sustainably yours ~ Ashley Sue

No, Amber Valletta is not looking for a green-hued ocean, but by teaming up with Oceana.org (and the likes of Ted Danson), she is advocating a healthier environment and healthier eating.

Back in May, Valletta began speaking out and campaigning against mercury exposure.  Now a mother, the cover girl is using her face as spokesperson for change.

I had no idea she (nor Danson) were using their celebrity to talk about this under-campaigned mission until my sister told me a couple days ago.

Enjoy the video, and enjoy something yummy, nutritious and responsible for dinner too. And if you by chance catch yourself yearning for that less-than-environmentally-friendly Yellowfin Tuna tonight, don’t beat yourself up. You’re aware of the situation, and you can make a positive impact in another capacity today… avoid the TV tonight to save energy. Or sleep with only a sheet over you instead of running the AC.

Just don’t make a habit out of shirking your eco-stewardship when reaching for your plate.

Back when I enjoyed eating seafood (who’s kidding me?  I will always love and miss seafood), I would chow down about any fish, not worrying for a second what environmental impact it may have.  Fish flesh was just too good.

Things have changed a bit in my world, and now I only consume of any fauna flesh once a year:  during a summer getaway weekend.  In those lusty moments of leaving the world’s cares and my daily duties behind, I make sure to enjoy one dinner with crab meat, my all-time favorite of anything I have ever eaten.

Indeed, I am a vegetarian (minus the annual ritual) that drools over the sight of a crab running along the beach.  I want to pick it up and begin feasting right there, Darryl Hannah-style circa the movie Splash (forgive me, Ms. Hannah, as I know you are a devout veg*n, and acting out the lobster scene strongly disturbed you ~ and I respect you for that).

Back to the point, I clicked to my MSN homepage today and saw two articles on 10 Eco-Worst Fish and 10 Eco-Best Fish to Consume, as defined by the Environmental Defence Fund.

Topping the worst list?

Atlantic Cod (a.k.a. Gadus morhua, rock cod, codling, scrod cod), Chilean Sea Bass, Orange Roughy, Atlantic Salmon, certain imported fish and shrimp, Tunas, and Shark!

On the other hand, if you just cannot stave off your desire, these are a few topping the eco-friendliest list:

Anchovies (pizza and worchester sauce, anyone?), Mackerel (one of my own favorites), oysters, Wild Alaskan Salmon, Sardines (I’ve never eaten one yet have so many memories of them), Rainbow Trout, Albacore, and Mussels.

Notes on standards the Environmental Defense Fund used to establish eco-worst from eco-best: 

These standards included endangerment to the species; overfishing of the ocean that disturbs the natural ecosystem; pollution, harm to the fish and damage caused farming; and pollution, health problems and mercury-intake in humans.

There are so many reasons to give up seafood in order to live healthier and promote healthier life for our Earth, but in my own opinion, if you are going to eat meat at all, be responsible and informed with the choices you make.  Choose healthier and less endangered animals that are hunted more sustainably than the chicken and burgers so many Americans normally eat for dinner.

Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue