Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday February 2 2011
Dear Diary...
Today, I went to my favourite restaurant which is a sushi bar. I love sushi. Actually, let me emphasize that: I love sushi. So when I had to pay extra for my tuna sashimi today, I almost snapped. As a student and a human being, I refuse to settle for less when I can have more if I'm causing no harm. There’s just no way! Anyways since I’m super close with the manager, I demanded for a reason behind the price increase. He told me that the value of tuna including Canadian albacore tuna is steadily rising so in order for him to make a living, the price must match its economic value. I say that’s false. I don’t believe it, not even for a second. Just wait bloggers, I’m going to show you the extremes I’ll go all for the food I love most.
Thursday February 3 2011
Dear Diary...
Hey guys, I’m back with my daily diary entry. So I did some resource… and it wasn’t all lies. In fact, the manager sugar coated the truth. The amazing canned Canadian albacore tuna I have everyday will some time near in the future… disappear. According to my research, tuna’s been decreasing since 1960. This means that tuna is becoming rarer, causing its value to rise. In 1999, 2,734 tonnes of albacore tuna were caught. Years later in 2004, 7,856 tonnes were captured. If the numbers doubled over five years, then imagine the amount in 2011. Albacore tuna is overfished. It’s ridiculous how greedy modern society is! This specie is already endangered and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it collapse within Canadian boundaries. The fishing industry must be running on greed and short-term interest.
Decreased Tuna Density
The graph is hard to understand so let me help you guys. The orange line shows the amount of tuna/billfish density caught per 1000 hooks. The blue line shows the total amount of tuna/billfish caught. This only means one thing: there is a decline of tuna and billfish.
Friday February 4 2011
Dear Diary...
I spent my day on the computer figuring out why albacore tuna is facing depletion. It can’t be only because of exploitation and it’s really not. Albacore tuna is under the organisation of two RFMO (Regional Fisheries Management Organisation): WCPEC (Western and Central Fisheries Commissions) and IATTC (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission). Truthfully the super long names aren’t of any help, but they are supposed to protect fish from danger so they can thrive in the future. Obviously, it’s failing majorly. First of all, there’s no catch limit. This allows fishers to murder as many as they can within one session. There’s also illegal fishing which for some reason is barely being stopped. Fishers are relying on advanced technology that do provide effective quantities of fish but do not provide proper care for the specie. Sadly, it’s not only tuna that is being harmed from these unjustified acts. Thousands of by-catch is mistakenly lured each year, causing population decrease for many ocean creatures.
To solve this problem, these organizations should create a law that limits the amount fishers are allowed to catch. They should also establish a law where they must release living by-catch. I believe that the RFMOs in charge of this area should regulate gears that can be used and also inspect any suspicious tools.
I spent my day on the computer figuring out why albacore tuna is facing depletion. It can’t be only because of exploitation and it’s really not. Albacore tuna is under the organisation of two RFMO (Regional Fisheries Management Organisation): WCPEC (Western and Central Fisheries Commissions) and IATTC (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission). Truthfully the super long names aren’t of any help, but they are supposed to protect fish from danger so they can thrive in the future. Obviously, it’s failing majorly. First of all, there’s no catch limit. This allows fishers to murder as many as they can within one session. There’s also illegal fishing which for some reason is barely being stopped. Fishers are relying on advanced technology that do provide effective quantities of fish but do not provide proper care for the specie. Sadly, it’s not only tuna that is being harmed from these unjustified acts. Thousands of by-catch is mistakenly lured each year, causing population decrease for many ocean creatures.
To solve this problem, these organizations should create a law that limits the amount fishers are allowed to catch. They should also establish a law where they must release living by-catch. I believe that the RFMOs in charge of this area should regulate gears that can be used and also inspect any suspicious tools.
Global Tuna RFMOs
As you can see, Canada's eastern fishery is covered by IATTC and WCPEC. The rest of the oceans are also protected, but I hope they don't face what the albacore tunas are. Best of wishes to you fish-ies!
Saturday February 5 2011
Dear Diary...
Hey guys! I know you’re tired of my sushi rant but I really can’t stop myself, even I think I’m boring. I promise I’ll stop acting like a teacher after this post. So here I go…
Last night I suddenly sprang out of bed to ask myself a question: why is albacore tuna overfished? At 3:00am, I had no idea but I was puzzling through it the entire day and I found my theory. Let me start off with a fact: when humans enjoy something, it’s natural to want more. Considering that, if albacore tuna is selling well then the primary and secondary industry workers would want to be more productive seeing that their goods are successful. For this to happen, primary industry workers would have to catch more fish and the secondary industry workers would continue their processing. Their indecent acts of greed creates huge amounts of pollution for the air and water. That only causes more damages to the environment and specifically, the fish in the ocean. Then, we as the consumers purchase these products and the cycle of capitalism begins again. The quaternary industry invented new technology that helps fishers locate their prey meaning that more fish can be depleted in less time. Even though the tertiary industry does not help fish farmers, they also create pollution in the process of their jobs. In summary, what I’m trying to point out is the fact that we are all criminals in the mystery of missing albacore tuna. I guess I’ll have to stop eating them in the present if I want to indulge it in the future… I’m only one in a million but if we all joined our hands together, we could be a million in one.
Sunday February 6 2011.
I know the news is hard to face but if you don't believe me, here are the links! Enjoy!
Albacore Tuna. N.p., 25 Oct. 2004. Web. 26 May 2011. http://www.bcseafoodonline.com/files/albacore_tuna.html.
Beehag, Graham. Fishing Canadian Industries. Calgary: Weighl Educational Publishers Limited, 2007. 20-29. Print.
Challenges Facing Ontario's Fisheries Resource. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 8 Feb. 2011. Web. 26 May 2011. http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_165901.html.
Pacific Albacore Tuna Management in Canada. Fisheries and Ocean Canada, 30 May 2009. Web. 26 May 2011. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/overfishing-surpeche/manange-gestion-alba-eng.htm.
PC Blue Menu Wild Albacore Tuna . President's Choice, n.d. Web. 26 May 2011. http://reviews.presidentschoice.ca/6584/F19736/reviews.htm.
Poorly managed fishing. WWF, n.d. Web. 26 May 2011. http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/problems_fishing/.
Tuna in Trouble. WWF International, 2007. Web. 25 May 2011. <http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/coraltriangle/WWFBinaryitem7726.pdf>.
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