Hillary Kenyon: A blog about environmental conservation, scuba diving, travel, and life. Photography, underwater videography, and some thoughts that I'd like to share.
In 2012, grassroots protests and political upheaval led the Costa Rican government to pass a ban on the shark finning practice and the transportation of shark fins. This new law was signed into effect by President Laura Chinchilla and aimed to 'close the loopholes' of the existing legislation. In 2001, Costa Rica had banned shark finning, but did not place any regulations on shark fin trade (meaning that it was practically impossible to regulate the illegal fishing practices). Costa Rican waters are home to a diverse array of sharks and are well known for massive schools of hammerheads! Longline fishing and the highly-wasteful practice of shark finning, however, have decimated these populations. This is largely in part to the global demand for shark fins due to the increasing popularity of shark fin soup in Asian cultures.
Merely a year later, Costa Rican fisherman have developed new fishing tactics to circumvent the law and to 'legally' continue the shark finning practice.
Shark fins remain attached to the spinal chord of the body by thin strips of cartilage. Because of poor wording in the new 2012 legislation, this practice is in fact legal in Costa Rica.
This video demonstrates the practice of shark finning... It is a bit gruesome to watch.
Today, there has been a great effort to reduce the demand for shark fins through science, education, and environmental activism. I personally feel like we have made giant strides into ocean conservation! Waves of activism continue to shake things up on the shark front and I actually do foresee a positive future on the horizon. We just have to keep up the good work. Education precedes consciousness, and consciousness is the primary ingredient in making environmentally favorable lifestyle choices. When the demand for fins decreases, the killing will also stop.
Here is a list of organisations who actively campaign against shark finning and promote shark conservation through awareness and education. Please get involved in any way you can!
And this is just the short list! There are many other non-profits that are devoted to shark research and conservation. There are also hundreds of organizations dedicated to ocean health and preservation in general.
Although shark finning is illegal in the United States, shark fins are imported and traded within the country to support the domestic fin soup demand. Check to see what your state regulations are and maybe you can pioneer a local change in the trade of fins in your area. Maybe you can convince local restaurants to remove shark fin from their menus. All of the aforementioned organizations provide ample educational material to help you become a shark conservationist. Be aware, be active, and share your love for the ocean!
NOAA's National Ocean Service defines a marine protected area (MPA) as an area of the ocean or Great Lakes that is protected for the purpose of conservation. Though there are varying levels of protection, the greater levels establish 'no-take' areas where it is illegal to fish, or to remove anything from the site. Such stringent regulations are to ensure that the delicate habitat is not disrupted by humans and, today, only apply in about 1% of United States waters. The highest level of protection of a MPA are the 'no-access' sites. With the exception of some research scientists, all human activity is restricted from these areas.
The purpose of MPAs is quite simple: to preserve a natural habitat by preventing detrimental human interactions. Areas selected for protection have been deemed 'critical' and are often breeding grounds or juvenile nurseries for at-risk marine species. Many MPAs are likely home to endangered endemic (only found in a certain area) species. MPAs under less strict regulations are to preserve unique landscapes, historical shipwrecks, and areas important to commercial fisheries (which are heavily regulated in such areas).
Official MPAs often overlap with the designation of a National Marine Sanctuary. Sanctuaries serve the same purpose of conservation, yet actively encourage eco-tourism and scientific research.
Map of National Marine Sanctuaries of the United States
I have had several opportunities to SCUBA dive in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary... and, words can not even describe how beautiful the area is. There are pristine coral reef systems for miles of amazing diving! Not to mention the crazy array of shipwrecks, many of which were purposely sunk to serve as both artificial reef habitat and recreation for divers.
Everyone benefits form Marine Protected Areas and National Marine Sanctuaries!
Awesome photo of me diving a wreck in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary!
We've all heard it before, "Don't buy farm-raised fish. It's all bad for you and pollutes the environment."
To me, this blanket statement says that, although one may have good intentions regarding personal and ecological health, that he or she is ignorant towards the real role of aquaculture in the world today. While yes....choosing sustainable wild-caught seafood at the supermarket is a very good way to help protect certain species from overfishing; aquaculture has become pertinent in the world seafood trade, supplementary to the wild fishing industry.
The NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service recently came out with a list of 10 common misconceptions about marine aquaculture.
Here I have copied and pasted the "10 Myths about Aquaculture" from the NOAA website and added some of my own two cents beneath each number (in black text).
The U.S. doesn’t need aquaculture.
"There are so many compelling reasons to develop domestic sources of farmed seafood. For one, it’s the best thing we can do to minimize our environmental seafood-related footprint. Second, it could guarantee a safe supply of healthy seafood for decades to come. Finally, domestic aquaculture creates jobs at home and supports vibrant coastal communities and working waterfronts. The U.S. currently imports 91 percent of its seafood, half of which comes from aquaculture. Were we to eliminate aquaculture from the seafood equation, global fisheries could not make up for current demand, let alone future needs."
I have to laugh when I hear people boasting about only buying 'wild-caught' salmon. They have no idea that the majority of 'wild-caught' Pacific and Alaskan salmon are actually reared and raised to the 'fry' stage in aquaculture hatcheries. Hence the 'wild-caught' label. The fishing pressures and demand for salmon are so great that it has become a standard practice to culture and release fish into the wild to grow to maturity. This practice has considerably helped stabilize populations and is the primary reason why Pacific salmon stocks are not severely depleted.
Aquaculture uses more wild fish than it produces.
"Globally, aquaculture uses less – about half a metric ton of wild whole fish goes into one metric ton of farmed seafood. Fishmeal and fish oil use in aquaculture is falling as researchers find other sources (such as algae and fish trimmings) that provide the same 40 essential nutrients needed by all animals including vitamins, dietary minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids. All farm animals need to be fed, but farmed fish are many times more efficient at converting feed into meat than other farmed animals such as cows and pigs."
During my short time at the University of Connecticut, I crossed paths with several professors and graduate students that were actively researching alternatives to traditional fishmeal used in aquaculture. I had the chance to chat with one PhD candidate that was researching the use of insects as fish feed to reduce the pressures of harvesting small Clupeiform fishes (anchovy, herring, sardines, shad, etc.) to feed the aquaculture industry.
Farmed fish isn’t safe to eat.
"Farmed seafood is both safe and healthy to eat – studies have shown this time and time again. Both the diets and environments of farmed seafood are monitored throughout the life of the animal. Because of their controlled diet, the heart-healthy long chain omega-three fatty acids and other nutrients in farmed seafood have levels similar to wild. In the U.S., seafood farmers follow the same food safety guidelines as other seafood producers and land farmers, as well as undergo regular inspections. Safety-related regulations address siting, what the animals are fed, and processing, to name just a few."
The FDA continues to update their seafood health "Fish and Fisheries Products Hazards and Controls Guide." Additionally, seafood farmers are subject to intense inspections by various government agencies (FDA, EPA, USDA, and NOAA) to ensure product quality and processing methods. Most farmed fish is very good for you! There have been past studies that showed that farmed fish did not possess the same levels of nutrients as wild-caught fish, but due to aquaculture research and development, this is generally not the case.
"Modern technologies, Best Management Practices, and strong regulation and monitoring have led to significantly improved sustainability in aquaculture."
Farmed fish are contaminated.
"No farmed fish are on any “avoid” list due to mercury or other pollutants. These harmful compounds enter and concentrate in organisms largely through what they eat. The FDA and state Departments of Agriculture conduct inspections as well as collect and analyze feed and fish samples to ensure that feeds and the fish that consume them meet strict requirements. Formulated feed ingredients used in aquaculture are regularly monitored to avoid possible contamination."
I personally feel that it is ludicrous how people actively avoid farm-raised fish because they believe it is somehow more contaminated than wild fish. Yes, there are various approved medicines and chemicals that are used in fish farms to prevent disease and parasites. The key thing to note, however, is that these products have all been extensively researched and approved because they have no effect on humans when used in the farming process. Most farmed fish are grown in a controlled environment....there is absolutely nothing controlled about eating fish contaminated with bio-accumulated mercury or PCBs (i.e. any large pelagic fish such as tuna, shark, swordfish, and even salmon). Humans continually dump hazardous chemicals and pollutants into the oceans and then turn around and use it as one of our main food sources! Excuse my foul analogy, but seems to me like defecating where you eat. Be mindful that the farm-raised fish, is almost certainly less 'contaminated' than wild fish sold at the supermarket.
Farmed salmon is full of harmful “color-added” dyes.
"You’ve seen it at the fish market: farmed salmon with ‘color-added.’ The pigment that gives all salmon their distinctive coloration isn’t harmful at all—in fact, it’s available in concentrated form as diet supplements at your local health food store. In the wild, salmon eat krill and other tiny shellfish that contain natural pigments called carotenoids, which are powerful antioxidants and precursors of vitamin A. Carotenoids give salmon flesh its distinctive pigment (although the color varies by species). Farmed salmon are supplemented with carotenoids that are identical to the pigment that salmon consume in the wild. Both natural and synthetic carotenoids are processed and absorbed by wild and farmed fish in exactly the same manner."
Farmed fish are full of harmful antibiotics.
"Antibiotic use in aquaculture has all but disappeared in the U.S., due to better husbandry and vaccines that have been developed for the major bacterial diseases. While good management practices and vaccines alone are usually enough to prevent or control disease, a farmer may, in consultation with a licensed veterinarian, use a limited number of aquatic animal drugs including antibiotics, in the case where they have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat specific conditions. The use of antibiotics for non-therapeutic purposes in aquaculture is prohibited by law."
Nothing really to add here, I think NOAA did a splendid job of clarifying these issues!
Fish waste from netpen aquaculture harms the ecosystem.
"Nutrient discharge from fish farming operations is organic and comes from two sources – uneaten feed and fish poop! Both of these are biodegradable and readily used by most aquatic ecosystems. In the U.S., decades of experience have led to net-pen aquaculture in balance with the ecosystem. This comes from effective management plans, proper siting, and regulatory regimes that ensure minimum impacts to the environment."
There are definitely cases where aquaculture and pens have degraded water quality by adding excessive nutrients into the water column. However, research in 'Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture' has revolutionized the farming industry and allows for the excess nutrients dispelled from finfish to be taken up and used by bivalve or seaweeds that are also grown for human consumption! Check it out: http://www.cimtan.ca/about_us and here!!!
Aquaculture causes diseases in wild fish.
"Disease transfer in shellfish has virtually never happened and it is extremely rare with fishfish. Pathogens are a fact of life with all forms of animal production, but their presence does not normally cause disease. The environment and host have to be in a distressed state for disease to take hold. In the wild, disease is often controlled by predators picking off the sick individuals of the population, movement to better conditions, and other ecological interactions. On farms, disease is kept at bay by vaccination, good nutrition, using disease-free fingerlings, biosecurity, and husbandry practices that minimize stress in farmed fish. The use of theraputants is a last resort."
Farmed salmon are full of sea lice.
"The parasite of greatest concern to salmon farmers is sea lice. Historically, sea lice occasionally have been a problem for farmed salmon in the State of Maine – where they exist naturally in the wild. In contrast, sea lice are not a problem for Washington State, where the water is less saline. Maine has made great strides in minimizing the incidence of sea lice by adopting an integrated pest management strategy similar to that used by organic farmers. This strategy includes reducing stocking density, bay-wide coordination among farms, early and coordinated treatments, and letting sites lie fallow between harvests."
Farmed fish and shellfish doesn’t taste as good.
"Taste is a matter of personal preference. In 2011, people in the U.S. ate over one billion pounds of shrimp and the majority of that is farmed – people must like it! In a recent survey , farmed salmon was preferred over wild salmon by Washington, DC area chefs. Most wild and farmed salmon are different species so you would expect them to taste different just as turkey does not taste like chicken. Some people prefer the fishier taste of wild salmon and many prefer the milder taste of farmed. Luckily, both are very good for you!"
"Aquaculture also is a tool for restoration. The white abalone was the first marine invertebrate to be listed as endangered and to receive federal protection under the Endangered Species Act"
Aquaculture is continuing to evolve! With the growing human population, aquaculture may be one of the only ways to supply the seafood demand while ensuring that natural populations are not fished to extinction. 'Farm raised' is not always bad! Ecologically responsible aquaculture facilities operate with great concern for the environment and under strict fish-farming quality standards. Please make informed decisions on which choices of fish you buy at the supermarket! It really does matter :)
When was the last time that you walked along the beach? Try to picture it. The salty aroma and humid air filling your lungs as you gape out at the endless sparkling waves that stretch to the horizon. It's a beautiful sight that pleasantly humbles you.
Now, to shatter that wonderful memory.... when was the last time you went to the beach and didn't see a single piece of trash gracing the shore or caught up in the wrack lines? My guess is never (unless you happen to be nearly a century old).
There is nothing that ruins such a picturesque scene like plastic bags lapping in the waves and seagulls picking at tattered beer cans.
With our explosive population, human waste has quickly become a monstrous dilemma. Improperly discarded plastics and other debris continue to find their way to the oceans. Processed materials do no readily biodegrade and are plaguing the fragile ecosystems of the world. Evidence of human disturbance (TRASH!) ends up biting us back when a day at the beach becomes a depressing reminder that the 'pristine' sea is actually NOT 'pristine' at all.
Surfer in Indonesia takes a photo of himself to demonstrate the sheer quantity of human trash in the water by his home.
The deleterious effects of such marine debris on wildlife are endless. That plastic cup that missed the garbage can when you tossed it will persist in the environment (most likely ending up in the ocean) for hundreds of years. Is that what you want to leave as your personal legacy? A pile plastic for turtles and birds to snack on long after your time on Earth has ended? Didn't think so.
Next time you are at the beach, pick up some trash instead of staring at it! Every individual bottle does count! If one million people (out of the billions on Earth) picked up ten pieces of trash from the ocean or beaches in a year (you could easily do this in a single trip to the shore)....that is a potential 1-billion pieces of garbage removed from the ocean in a hundred years. I can't even fathom what 1-billion pieces of trash looks like, but I trust that the world would be a significantly cleaner place. Seriously, do it. You do matter!
The article that prompted this rant on marine debris focused on a specific form of human disturbance: the ghost net. Derelict fishing gear and trawl nets accidentally lost to the seas do not cease to 'catch.' I'm not going to completely reiterate the article, but you should definitely watch this video or read about it yourself!
To end on a positive note, check out the NOAA Marine Debris team. The team members are dedicated to removing harmful trash and ghost nets from the oceans and need your help!
Newspapers exploded a few weeks ago when two giant 'sea serpents' washed up on the California shoreline. An eighteen-foot long oarfish was recovered from the water near Santa Catalina Island on October 13th, followed by yet another fourteen-footer just fifty miles away.
The oarfish, Regalecus russelii, is a deep-sea dwelling creature that predominately inhabits the waters in the Western Pacific Ocean. Known to live in depths as great as 1,000ft. below the surface, oarfish are incredibly adapted to life at extreme pressures and darkness. However, some scientists believe that they spend much time at the surface as well. Because so little is known about the species life cycle, populations, and overall ecological role, the two astounding specimens prompted a frenzied marine biologist field day. In a podcast released by NOAA, you can listen to scientists discuss current research topics revolving around the elusive oarfish.
Most marine biologists will say that ancient tales of sea serpents have stemmed from oarfish sightings. (I can see why!) Oarfish have only been observed in the wild a handful of times, so the fact that two of these creatures were found dead within the same week suggests that there is something 'fishy' going on in the waters off California. Researchers hope to shed new light on the cause of death and reproductive mechanisms of the species. Further studies may reveal chemical or physical changes in the underwater world that we still know so little about.
