Hate mail for like-minded conservationists

[um...]

They really need to be less optimistic about the benefits of simply 'reducing' the catch. Unless I've been comatose, the cod moratorium imposed in 1992 has yet to revitalise the industry in Newfoundland. Maybe the seals really are to blame, after all (sarcasm, in case you were wondering). Here's a one-year-old article from the BBC which talks a little about that. Yeah, we dropped that ball.

How much work has been done to assess the effect of climate change in all of this? Sure, the water is getting warmer. But what about salinity? I remember reading that the salinity of the West Atlantic was falling rather drastically in the higher latitudes (of both hemispheres). Yes? If so, might this have negative short-term implications, in addition to the potentially catastrophic long-term changes in circulation it could eventually cause? How stenohaline are these things?

What about increasing levels of UV radiation? Might not be too good for the little fishies.

 

[Emperor]

Here's a transcript of a lovely letter published in Letters to the Editor, 'Seafood New Zealand, November 2003':

Here was Steve O'Shea, a giant squid expert raving over a carcass. He was climbing on it, tasting it, poking and proding it. It was almost carnal and darn near necrophilial.

Just when you think things can't get worse you get accused of necrophiliac tentacle porn!!!

You'd think people would get bored with making themselves look silly but clearly not yet

Emps

 

[um...]

You'd think people would get bored with making themselves look silly but clearly not yet

I rarely pass up an opportunity.

 

[Colin]

The scottish fishing industry has had some recent news on the subject BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Mixed reaction to fishing deal

"Our fishermen have bent over backwards to conserve fish stocks by halving the size of the fleet.

"Instead of UK Fishing Minister Ben Bradshaw and his Scottish counterpart Ross Finnie demanding a reward for Scotland, all our fishing communities have received is another kick in the teeth."

 

[Steve O'Shea]

They really need to be less optimistic about the benefits of simply 'reducing' the catch. Unless I've been comatose, the cod moratorium imposed in 1992 has yet to revitalise the industry in Newfoundland. Maybe the seals really are to blame, after all (sarcasm, in case you were wondering). Here's a one-year-old article from the BBC which talks a little about that. Yeah, we dropped that ball.

How much work has been done to assess the effect of climate change in all of this? Sure, the water is getting warmer. But what about salinity? I remember reading that the salinity of the West Atlantic was falling rather drastically in the higher latitudes (of both hemispheres). Yes? If so, might this have negative short-term implications, in addition to the potentially catastrophic long-term changes in circulation it could eventually cause? How stenohaline are these things?

What about increasing levels of UV radiation? Might not be too good for the little fishies.

Dr um....., all rather valid points that certain parties within the fishing industry would seize upon as the 'real reason' behind collapse of fisheries. Point the finger at industry pumping crap into the atmosphere, or at things beyond human control (if temperature/salinity changes are part of some longer-term natural glacial/interglacial oscillation), but don't point it at 'us', not at overfishing or 'our' fishing techniques.

I think the cod would have moved and new grounds would be being exploited if the change were purely environmental; things that aren't fixed to the rock have a habit of moving when conditions aren't right. Nevertheless, climate change, increased UV, changes in sea temperatures and salinity will all play some part in changes in fish species (and everything else) population dynamics.

You are looking at things at a scale an order of magnitude greater than present fisheries management.

 

[myopsida]

I think the cod would have moved and new grounds would be being exploited if the change were purely environmental; things that aren't fixed to the rock have a habit of moving when conditions aren't right.

Have to disagree there Steve O. Most environmental niches are fully exploited hence there are no gaps for newcomers (unless they force another species out) - I doubt the cod would or could move. And the assumption is that there are other areas that provide the same environmental conditions . . . . if there were the cod would already be there. The fossil history shows that species usually go extinct when environments change, rather than adapt to new conditions (at least at the rate required to cope with the current changes).

 

[Steve O'Shea]

Quick 180° here; duly noted and in agreement M; M knows many orders of magnitude more about these things than O.

 

[WhiteKiboko]

Omega-3 is available as a dietary supplement (softgel or liquid), but I think even in that form it must be derived from a fish source. If a good vegetarian source of Omega-3 can be isolated in the future, so much the better -- the resulting conservation of fish would be most desirable, not to mention the economic advantage (I don't know about NZ, but fish is pricey in my part of the world).

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=0009C53E-5EF3-1021-9EF383414B7F0000

Definitely more fish friendly, but something tells me people would complain about this....

 

[Snafflehound]

Who would complain about eating mice? Mmmm mouse kebab :P

 

[um...]

Not me! Grind it up, and it's all the same.

 

[Fujisawas Sake]

Mmmmm... Souris a la creme...

Souris and Sake,

John

 

[Snafflehound]

Mouse mousse :P

 

[WhiteKiboko]

Not sure a fish oily mousse is a good idea....

 

[Crevalle]

Interesting. Personally, I tend to subscribe to the belief that the "temperature/salinity changes are part of some longer-term natural glacial/interglacial oscillation." That is not to say man doesn't play a part, but I believe we consistently underestimate the power of nature to cleanse itself, proliferate itself, and adapt itself. I am almost sure I am the only Republican here, but just thought I'd throw my two-cents into the ring.

FWIW, I recently read a book entitled "The Hungry Ocean." Essentially, it is a book written by a woman who is a retired swordboat captain. She mentions in passing that, in seventeen years of fishing, she honestly has never witnessed a depletion/reduction in the number/size of swordfish in the Atlantic, off the east coast. She couldn't figure out what all of the "fuss" was about. Yes, I realize she may be biased, but it was interesting to read. Either way, the book wasn't about fish populations, but rather her experiences as a fisherwoman.

 

[um...]

Here's a rather unfortunately titled article from Nature:

Climate findings let fishermen off the hook

If anything, I figure that reduction in fish stocks due to environmental factors would place fishermen under even greater pressure. The distribution of blame is irrelevant, isn't it? Except, perhaps, that it makes providing financial relief to fishermen more palatable if they are less responsible for their predicament.