Comments Carl Safina has made

consumer power

In response to an earlier comment, consumers can and have made a difference with how fisheries are conducted. They dramatically changed how tuna in the Pacific are netted so as to avoid killing dolphins. (this is not as simple a victory as it sounds, the dolphin-safe methods have much more waste of other kinds of fishes, catch huge numbers of juvenile tuna, and are harder on sharks and sea turtles). Atlantic swordfish recovery has been started by a combination of a high-profile boycott and legal means, and increasingly, niche buyers and sellers are gaining market share doing business with a growing number of eco-conscious seafood lovers. Even WalMart has announced its intention to sell only sustainable seafood in 5 years. So, yes, consumers, even a minority of consumers, can get the attention of an increasingly competitive seafood industry. Of course it works in reverse, too. The insane prices paid in Japan are what is driving the bluefin to depletion or commercial extinction. So, again, consumer power is a major force. Harness it for the good!

- Carl SafinaOn Commission on bluefin conservation comes up empty again posted 2 years ago 9 Responses