Our next stop is the North Atlantic Sea. We are here today to present an award to the captain of the vessel, Gonto Maru. This is a monumental moment! It has been reported that an Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, long believed to be extinct, has been caught. We are going on board to present the captain with the
Last Tuna of the Sea Trophy.
We are flying over the middle of the Pacific Ocean and about to land on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This floating island, created by circular patterns of currents, is totally made of plastic bags, chemical sludge, shoes, bottles, toys, cigarette lighters, etc.,etc.; and is held together by fishing lines, nets, ropes, and those little plastic soda-can rings. The island, one of several, is larger than the state of Texas and several miles deep. It has become a popular spot for tourists on cruise ships, and a large feeding ground for migrating birds.
2013
(And this is no joke!) |
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ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST |
*Contains levels of mercury or PCB that may pose health risks to children and adults. |
Abalone, Black (awabi) |
critically endangered |
Chilean Sea Bass* So.Ocean - wild |
endangered |
Cod, Atlantic & Pacific (fish sticks) |
endangered |
Conch, Queen - worldwide wild-caught |
endangered |
Crab, King* (kani) - imported |
endangered |
Eel, Freshwater (unagi) worldwide |
endangered |
Flounder,Dab,Sole (hirame) wild |
endangered |
Grouper,Snowy* (mero) wild-caught |
endangered |
Halibut,Atlantic/Pacific (hirame) wild |
endangered |
Mahi mahi,Dorado,Dolphinfish -imported |
endangered |
Marlin,Blue (a'u kajiki) - imported/wild |
endangered |
Marlin,Striped* (a'u nairagi) worldwide |
endangered |
Orange Roughy* - worldwide/wild |
endangered or extinct |
Pollock, Atlantic (surimi) - Iceland |
endangered |
Red Snapper (kurodai) - Gulf of Mex. |
endangered |
Salmon*,Atlantic/river (ikura) - wild |
endangered or extinct |
Shark* (shark fin soup) - worldwide |
endangered |
Shrimp,Tiger,White (ebi) import/wild |
endangered |
Sturgeon,White,Beluga,Russian,Stellate
(caviar) - wild-caught
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endangered or extinct |
Swordfish*, Broadbill, Emperador, Espada (shutome) - imported
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threatened or endangered |
Trout*, Lake Huron, Lake Mich. - wild |
endangered |
Tuna,Albacore* (canned white tuna)
(shiro maguro) - wild-caught |
endangered |
Tuna, Blackfin* (toro maguro) Atlantic |
endangered |
Tuna, Bluefin* (hon maguro) worldwide |
endangered |
Tuna, Bigeye* (ahi maguro) worldwide |
endangered |
Tuna, Yellowfin* (canned) worldwide |
endangered |
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This is a partial list. For a complete list of endangered seafood contact: |
www.montereybayaquarium.org |
This is still 2013, the nightmare of global warming is ever-looming just over the horison. Levels of green-house gases are increasing at an alarming rate, in spite of many studies, much debate and obstinate denials.
Our oceans cover over 70% of the planet, they help regulate our climate. Many species, including humans, depend on healthy oceans. But our oceans are getting hit hard: Becoming too acidic, too polluted, and too over-fished. There are dead-zones off the coast of all the major continents, mainly due to agricultural and industrial run-off. Scientists estimate that 90% of the large fish in our oceans are already gone. Many sea mammals, amphibians, seabirds, and coral reefs are critically endangered. And if the guilt of gobbling up the remaining 10% of our large fish doesn't alter your eating habits, than how about the fact that many of these large fish contain unhealthy levels of mercury, PCBs, DDT, and now maybe even radiation poisoning.
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- Be informed: Ask where your fish comes from, how it is caught, whether it is from a sustainable source, and how it is rated in terms of level of toxicity. Do not eat farm raised fish of any kind.
- Demand that your representatives in Congress do everything they can to promote and subsidize green energy, instead of subsidizing the mega-rich oil industry.
- Buy electric. Go solar. Consumers do have a voice.
- If your car has a diesel engine, convert it to biodiesel (it was originally designed to run on peanut oil).
- Buy local organic produce and animal products.
- Move to higher grounds, stock up on supplies, batten down the hatches and hold on to your thumbs - because it's going to be a stormy ride!
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