Deep-sea bottom trawling

A major issue in our food chain, for our ethical eating, and - not least - for our environment and planet, is the way our sea food comes to us. We purchase our sea food in a variety of forms - fresh, frozen, canned and processed as ingredients in sauces and pre-packaged dishes. Many species are being fished out - either across the globe or in specific locations. Those consumers paying attention to what is happening are a minority.

Humanity will finish up with little seafood and the ocean a desert. If, dear Reader, you think that fish farming as a replacement for fish in the wild is a solution you need to have a closer look at the consequence of that for us and for the environment.

So one wants to be encouraged by what has just happened in Chile where China, the United States, France, Japan, Chile and South Korea were among the countries signing an agreement to impose restrictions on deep-sea bottom trawling from October until a full scientific study can be undertaken on the effects of bottom trawling. At time of writing, Miss Eagle has not been able to obtain a full list of signatories.

The agreement covers a quarter of the world's oceans and will restrict fishing vessels from dragging huge weighted nets across the sea floor. Except for the tuna fishery, the South Pacific high seas are essentially 'free-for-all' fishery.

Miss Eagle assumes that Australia was present at the meeting - but this has yet to be confirmed. Also to be confirmed is whether Australia is a signatory to the agreement. One assumes that Australia was there and is a signatory the agreement because of our role as a member of the Deep-Sea Defenders. Greenpeace has a compiled a Bottom Trawling League Table.

For three years, Greenpeace has worked with the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition and its 60 member organisations to get a global moratorium on the destructive fishing practice of bottom trawling in the high seas.

Japan, China and South Korea have signed this recent agreement: three nations in the whole of Asia. [If this is incorrect it is because of lack of details] Miss Eagle wants to know what Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia are doing.

Check your labels, dear Reader. If it is confirmed that a particular nation is not a signatory to the Regional Fisheries Management, please check your labels and the source of your fish and boycott products from nations who are not signatories to the agreement.

Otherwise, you are a contributor to the cycle of detriment to this planet. You are a contributor to the desertification of our oceans and species destruction.

For more information, dear Reader, on seafood sustainability you might like to go to the following sites:

• Eartheasy
• Fishonline
• Choice
• Sea-ex
• Frank Mason & Associates this site contains a host of useful links