If we let fish become extinct, we will lose our oceans

Amanda Jung/ Staff Writer

Fish have become a staple in American society as well as the diets and cultures of many others around the world.

Chances are you have been on a few fishing trips in your lifetime. And there is an even bigger possibility that you have owned a goldfish or visited an aquarium.

I am guilty of each and every one of the things that I mentioned above.

I have gone on camping trips with my family in which we spent time sitting at docks, waiting for something to get caught on our fishing lines.

I have owned a pet fish that eventually passed away and had to be flushed down the toilet.

And I have been on countless field trips to aquariums in which I have been feet away from hundreds of species of fish, only separated by a piece of glass.

But have you ever stopped to do the math? Fish have become a big part of our diets and on top of that, the entertainment industry.

How many more fish can we remove from the ocean before there are no more left to be caught?

According to National Geographic, “the loss of ocean biodiversity is accelerating” and “if the long-term trend continues… there will be little or no seafood available for sustainable harvest” in the next thirty years.

As humans, we depend on the survival of this ecosystem and with the removal of so many fish from the ocean, we are at risk.

Even more people are hopping on board with the pescetarian diet. In other words, the only meat that they consume is fish.

According to Authority Nutrition, “fish is one of the healthiest foods in the planet.” But what makes it so healthy?

Joe Leech, a dietitian for Authority Nutrition, claims that “it is loaded with important nutrients, such as protein and vitamin D” and it is also the best source of omega-3 fatty acids.”

However, PETA offers a different point of view, showing that the health benefits are not what they seem.

They state that “the consumption of fish flesh is harmful to humans. Both wild and farmed fish live in increasingly polluted waters and their flesh rapidly accumulates high levels of dangerous toxins.”

They also tell us that “fish are the main, if not the only source of methylmercury” which is linked to cardiovascular disease, fetal brain damage, blindness, deafness and more.

These are similar points that Erica Melamed, the president of Plant-Based Society at FIU, has brought up.

Melamed is currently leading a campaign with the other members of the society titled, “Fishless February.” The goal is to encourage people not to consume fish or support establishments like SeaWorld that captivate fish as a part of their business.

Fish should not be eaten, or kept in tanks for the duration of their lives.

Additionally, a study that was published in UGA Today discovered that “through excretion, [fish] recycle the nutrients they take in, providing the fertilizer seagrass and algae need to grow.”

This study shows that fish do not just deserve to be free but– for the sake of their ecosystem– they need to be. Without them, the unique ecosystems of the oceans will perish.

Every choice we make somehow has an impact on the environment. Consider giving up fish for the month of February, not only in  support of Plant-Based Society’s campaign, but in support of the environment as well.  

Going fishless now will help ensure that our oceans do not have to explore the dark possibility of being fishless forever.

 

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of Panther Press Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

 

Photo taken from Flickr.

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