EDFish

Newsflash! Warming oceans=changes in fish populations and ecosystems

EDF Oceans — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:21:08 +0000

A number of scientific studies indicate that warming waters are affecting fish populations globally—and often in unpredictable ways. This finding is significant for fisheries management because as fish populations shift, whole ecosystems are changed. A recent study covering 40 years of data illuminates these changes in fish distributions and a Huffington Post article examines the [...]

Managing Our Nations Fisheries 3 Conference: Take away messages

Melissa Carey — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:21:06 +0000

America’s fishing laws are generally working well to rebuild fish stocks, but there is still work to be done to make sure that our sustainable fisheries are sustainable for fishermen. That was the takeaway message from the recent gathering of the nation’s top fisheries advisors, scientists, members of regional councils and the eNGO community who [...]

The Business of Marine Reserves: Achieving Financially Sustainable Ocean Conservation

Rod Fujita — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:55:25 +0000

Ocean conservationists have been arguing for a long time that marine reserves are a good investment, because they help sustain many ecosystem services, including fisheries and tourism. Various studies have helped to quantify the value generated by marine reserves, but a new study puts it all together and presents a convincing value proposition for marine [...]

Support American Fishermen: Fish for a different dish

Tim Fitzgerald — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:46:16 +0000

When it comes to seafood, we are creatures of narrow habit. The average American eats about 15 pounds of seafood each year (well below the global average for coastal nations), almost 60% of which is either shrimp, canned tuna or salmon. That number jumps to more than 80% if you include "whitefish" like pollock, tilapia [...]

Eating with the Ecosystem: Georges Bank

Jake Kritzer — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:59:00 +0000

Eating with the Ecosystem is a project created to help consumers learn about the marine waters from which New England seafood is harvested. The project aims to build upon related efforts focused on sustainable seafood and eating local by urging consumers to think about the suite of species living together in a given place, and [...]

Department of Labor Finds Fishing is (once again) the Deadliest Job

EDF Oceans — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:21:58 +0000

The U.S. Department of Labor released its final statistics on job fatalities in 2011 today. Fishing was once again the deadliest occupation, with a fatality rate 36 times that of the national average. Fishing is consistently the most dangerous American occupation, year after year, which is surprising to many people who do not fish or [...]

NGOs should focus on helping fishermen implement policies

Pam Ruiter — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:34:22 +0000

It’s no secret that working directly with fishermen to implement fishery management solutions is the most effective way to support positive change. Recently, we have begun engaging in conversations with fishermen, fishery stakeholders and MEPs on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in Europe. EDF was recently acknowledged in an article in Under Current [...]

Earth Day 2013: Awareness, Advocacy and Hope for the World’s Oceans

Violet Dixon — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:27:25 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEe1bVjORN4

On this Earth Day, take a moment to appreciate the vastness and intricacies of our world’s oceans. Allow yourself to be mesmerized by the swirling currents continuously circulating the globe. It is amazing that science can meticulously catalog natural systems and present them to those without the ability to see what our Earth looks like from space. What this stunning NASA visualization does not show, are the numerous challenges facing the oceans such as overfishing, ocean acidification, oil spill contamination and plastic waste. While these challenges are largely hidden beneath the waves, increasing awareness, education, scientific research and advocacy have illuminated them. These challenges impact not only the fish and other creatures that live in the ocean, but the billions of people worldwide who depend on clean, healthy oceans for food and eco-tourism. Fortunately, a growing momentum to save our oceans is emanating from all corners of the world as people see the value and imminent need to preserve marine resources for future generations. The World Bank announced a Global Partnership for Oceans last February 2012, which brings together governments, international organizations, civil society groups and members of the private sector with the common goal of assembling knowledge and financial resources to solve the threats facing ocean health and productivity. This partnership represents a concrete collaboration between global stakeholders to restore the oceans to health, and we are proud to be a part of this effort.

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