Friday, April 2, 2010

Fishing Methods and Sustainable Harvesting

Thursday and Friday we discussed fishing and seafood harvesting, the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly.

The truth is that our oceans are being fished to extinction and emptiness. We are harvesting more and more fish from smaller and smaller populations. What is a person to do that wants to eat seafood, but not hurt the environment?

BECOME AWARE. Most people do not know where their seafood came from or how it was caught.

How it was caught makes a big difference. Different fishing methods have pros and cons for the environment and regarding bycatch (fish and other organisms like sharks, sea turtles, sea birds, and dolphins, that are caught, often killed, and not really wanted).

One of the biggest things to avoid is any kind of imported shrimp. Imported shrimp are either caught with destructive trawl nets that destroy habitats and that do not have TEDs that allow turtles and dolphins to escape unharmed or they are farmed in aquaculture plants that are built on destroyed mangrove forests that then leach pollution and kill nearby coral reefs.

The United States requires all shrimp trawlers to be outfitted with TEDs and regulates where they can trawl. The US has higher standards for pollution laws and laws protecting shore habitats that result in less damage to the environment. Choose US shrimp ONLY!

If you would like more information - check out SeafoodWatch, a non-profit organization that independently evaluates fisheries for their sustainability and environmental impacts.

This article also has some really nice information and photos. Sustainable seafood.
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Computer Lab Etiquette

You are in the computer lab to do work for this class. If you are not doing work, then we will have problems.

Do not pack up early. Work until the bell or until MsJ says.

SAVE OFTEN. And if you save to a key, also save it to your number. If you lose it, you will have to do it again.

If MsJ asks for your attention, stop what you are doing and listen to what she has to say.

You may watch videos about your organism through reliable websites.

You may listen to music through the computer if you have your own headphones. Rule1 MsJ cannot hear it. You get one warning. Rule2 Turn it on and listen – no million clicks and constant changing. Take both ear phones out when MsJ is talking.