Blowing the Whistle on the Tuna Fishing Industry
The big trawler fishing style garners huge amounts of media and conservationist attention that it almost feels as though the fishing industry is taking us for a ride. We know what happens, it isn’t just prime, sustainable catch that they are winching onto their ships… it is the entire diversity of aquatic life too.
In this new video from Greenpeace, a helicopter pilot, who used to be the whistle blower for large shoals of tuna, turns his back and decides to whistle blow the fishermen instead. The video is graphic and extremely disturbing in parts as the pilot recounts seeing whales, marlins, swordfish, sharks and the like being hauled onto the container ships day in and day out. Although remaining anonymous, the pilot has done a courageous and noble thing: he has uncovered one of the core issues (the use of FADs: Fish Aggregation Devices) and the intensely ruthless nature of the men being the fishing. For the atrocities to stop, both a change in the moral codes of the fishing experts and the methods of operation must occur.
A helicopter pilot speaks out about his experiences onboard a number of purse seine tuna fishing vessels operating in the Pacific. His gruesome footage shows how the use of Fish Aggregation Devices is resulting in the bycatch of all sorts of marine life and contributes to the depletion of tuna stocks. Greenpeace is campaigning for more sustainable and less destructive tuna fisheries in the Pacific Ocean.
Additionally, for those interested, here is some partially-good news for the tuna fishery (however, there is MUCH to be done): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-158...
Thanks for this Charlie! In correspondence with my views on the shark finning industry, the bluefin tuna fishery is just as neglectful and devastating. Populations of this species are said to have declined more than 90% over the last decade and a half or so, with no signs of slowing down. With Mitsubishi (the car company) presumed to own and be storing about 80% of bluefin catch, a higher demand for this species is evident. For people reading this article, if you are at a restaurant such as a sushi bar, PLEASE ask them what species of tuna they serve. It is adamant that you eat only sustainable fish species. If the restaurant is serving bluefin, SAY NO! If something isn't done about this fishery soon, there will be no bluefin tuna left in the sea - I can guarantee you that.
[...] but made a conscious decision to become a vegetarian 9 years ago. I am aware that it doesn’t stop the killing of animals but simply raises awareness of the [...]