Posts Tagged 'seafood watch'

This World Oceans Day, Let’s Celebrate How Water Connects Us All

world oceans day

On June 8, organizations and communities from around the world will join to celebrate the Earth’s largest life-support system, the ocean. World Oceans Day, first celebrated in 2002, was established to help educate others on how much of an impact the ocean has on our lives and what we need to do to protect it!

Why we should celebrate the ocean, by the numbers: 

For 2.6 billion people, the ocean is their primary source of protein.

For 3 billion people, the ocean is their livelihood.

For all of us, the ocean absorbs more than 30 percent of carbon dioxide produced by humans, slowing climate change and allowing us a quality of life that, without the ocean, would not be possible (if we could survive at all).

A recent estimate suggests that there may be as many as 1 million species of non-bacterial life in the world’s waterways YET to be identified.

Though Earth is 70 percent water, an incredible 90 percent of this aquatic real estate has yet to be discovered.

While it’s great for the global community to unify this day in celebration of the ocean, here are five easy ways you can protect this vital resource every day:

  1. Reduce your energy use
    Carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels can lead to ocean acidification, which is harmful to ocean life. You can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide you put into the atmosphere by riding a bike, walking or using public transportation and by turning off the lights when you leave a room.
  2. Use less plastic
    When plastic debris ends up in the ocean, animals can mistake it for food and eat it by accident, causing animals to choke or clogging their digestive systems. You can prevent this by limiting plastic use and always disposing of trash properly. Choose reusable items such as cloth grocery bags or refillable water bottles.
  3. Cut apart six-pack rings
    The plastic rings used for soda containers can pose a threat to marine life. Creatures can get caught in the rings and sometimes are unable to free themselves. You can help save these animals by cutting apart the rings before throwing them in the trash.
  4. Conserve water
    Reducing your water use can minimize wastewater runoff into the ocean, preventing chemicals and other contaminants from damaging marine habitats. You can conserve water by taking quicker showers and turning off the water when brushing your teeth.
  5. Eat sustainable seafood
    Overfishing can lead to an irreparable loss in certain seafood populations. To prevent this, avoid catching or eating certain species that have been exploited, such as bluefin tuna and Chilean seabass. Visit seafoodwatch.org for more sustainable seafood recommendations!

Making smart seafood choices

Around the world, people are eating seafood more than ever before. Everyone has heard the term, sustainable seafood, but what exactly does it mean for consumers?

By definition sustainable seafood is seafood from either fished or farmed sources that can maintain or increase production in the future without jeopardizing the ecosystems from which it was acquired.

Fishing practices worldwide are damaging our oceans—depleting fish populations, destroying habitats and polluting the water.  The sustainable seafood movement has gained momentum as more people become aware about both overfishing and environmentally-destructive fishing methods.

So what can you do? Make ocean-friendly seafood choices when dining out or purchasing seafood at the grocery store. There are plently of sustainable seafood guides available online to help you make smart choices. The National Aquarium supports the Seafood Watch Guide that is prepared by the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Interested in learning how to prepare sustainable seafood?  The National Aquarium is introducing a new dining series that celebrates sensible and scrumptious seafood choices. Fresh Thoughts: A Seafood Dining Trilogy will consist of three unique events that feature educational cooking demonstrations and seated dinners overlooking the Aquarium’s coveted view of the Baltimore Harbor. Click here to learn more!  And if you have a favorite recipe or local restaurant that offers sustainable seafood, please share with us.


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