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My friend Dan Burns from SCU Environmental Studies and the Whale Research Centre, sent me an interesting if depressing report on the state of the world’s fisheries which are in crisis. In fact some fish being sold in Sydney fish markets haven’t yet been described or named by scientists!
Less than one percent of Australia’s marine environment is fully protected from fishing and mining. Important habitats are under threat because of land clearing, climate change and irresponsible coastal development. While plans are in motion to help protect our fish it’s going to take decades to take effect. In the meantime, we can help. One of the most threatened are sharks (sold as flake) for fish and chips. If you have a choice go for barramundi, blue-eye cod, hoki, bream, mullet or snapper when ordering.
Some species are overfished others are associated with the by-catch using longlines that snare dolphins, turtles, sharks seabirds etc. There is also a lot of mis-labelling. The ancient and threatened Orange Roughy is sometimes sold as deep Sea Perch or sea perch.
Avoid baby octopus (imported from the overfished Gulf of Thailand) and choose calamari or blue mussels. Avoid Southern scallops and choose oysters – but not Pacific Oysters which are introduced and have become a pest. Instead of Tiger prawns choose Balmain or Moreton Bay Bugs. Say no to Swordfish which are caught on longlines. Atlantic Salmon is off the menu because they can escape from their pens in the wild and are fed huge amounts of wild-caught fish. Rainbow Trout is bad as it’s an introduced fish that can threaten native species. No to Southern Bluefin Tuna but yes to Yellowfin Tuna. Also ok are Mackerel, Flathead, King George and school whiting, Blue Grenadier (Hoki), Tailor, coral trout, mullet, Blue-eye Trevalla (or cod )and Ling.
We should demand that fish be rated with a sustainability scale like a fridge or washing machine. Eating an endangered animal doesn’t taste so good. (Think of tiger burgers or elephant and rhino mince!) So let’s try to be better informed.
Cheers.
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