Most people in England eat fish (and that’s not going to change any time soon). So if you eat fish, look for locally-caught fish with a guarantee of no by-catch (long-line fishing kills around a million sharks each year and also harms endangered sea turtles, as the bait resembles their favourite food of jellyfish). A reason also never to release balloons, which nearly always end up in the sea, before they ‘biodegrade’). Also read how to prevent ghost fishing waste.
Other creatures that suffer by-catch from huge fishing vessels are seabirds, seals and whales. For every ton of prawns caught, 3 tons of other fish are killed. And 20,000 porpoises (close relatives of dolphins) die in salmon fishing nets each year, in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Understanding Overfishing in England
Over 50% of fish stocks in England’s waters are now below safe biological limits. Recent reports indicate that some fish populations in English waters have plummeted as much as 70% over the last 30 years. Cod, haddock and plaice face significant declines. And even basking sharks (often caught in fishing nets) are at risk, also due to habitat destruction (and lack of food).
Tuna & Cod are Both Critically Endangered
Dolphins (that swim alongside yellow fin tuna) are particularly at risk from tuna fishing. So if present rates continue, there soon won’t be any cod or tuna left in the sea (bluefin tuna is particularly endangered, as it’s used to make Asian sushi).
Cod is on the critically endangered IUCN Red List, yet still sold widely (most comes from Icelandic waters, which won’t let others countries fish, within 100 miles).
Due to the shortage of cod, some chip shops now sell ‘rock salmon’ or ‘huss’ that is actually dogfish (shark).
A local fisherman has caught enough to feed himself and his family for the day. He is resting on the beach. A businessman approaches and asks him ‘Why don’t you catch more fish, then you can buy a bigger boat?’
The fisherman replies ‘Why would I do that?’ The businessman then tells him that if he caught more fish, he would earn more money to buy more boats, employ staff and then earn enough to retire.
The fisherman replies ‘Then what would I do?’ The businessman says he could then relax on the beach. The fisherman replies ‘Bu I am doing that already – without any of the added stress!’
Ideas to Help Stop Over-Fishing
- Eat less fish or no fish! Moving Mountains offers wonderful plant-based codless fillets and fishless fingers (also for wholesale). You can easily find vegan tuna in supermarkets.
- If you eat fish, look for locally caught fish from traditional small-scale fisheries that use pole-and-line method (dragging a net behind a boat, so basically catching one fish at a time, and releasing accidental by-catch immediately.
- Private anglers can use Monomaster, which lets you store fishing gear, until you deposit it in a fishing line recycling station (or send it off).
- Companies like Seagrown and Sea & Believe (Ireland) are teaching fisheries how to grow and harvest seaweed, to make high-profit sustainable burgers and beer!
What’s the Deal with Fishing Quotas?
EU fishing quotas cover laws, on how much each company can fish. It’s still complicated, even after leaving the EU. Just five or so family-owned companies control a third of UK fishing quotas, with another 25 companies controlling the rest. The world’s biggest tuna company owns John West (and has been rapped on the knuckles for putting profit above welfare).
Small fishing trawlers in historic ports like Grimsby have now been replaced by massive hauling ships. As the number of fish in the sea decline, the nets get smaller to catch smaller fish for bigger profits (these are often too small for humans, so end up in pet food or garden fertiliser).
Overfishing off the coast of Great Yarmouth (Norfolk) even led to bans on herring fishing for some time, until numbers recovered (the annual catch caused the population to fall by 30 times, in just over a decade).
What Are the Most Over-fished Species?
Alaska pollock is so over-fished that one author writes ‘If you’re eating fish but you don’t know what kind it is, it’s almost certainly pollock’. Often disguised as ‘seafood’ or ‘crab meat’, it’s in ‘fish sticks’ and McDonald’s ‘Filet-o-fish’ sandwiches. With a US annual value of over one billion dollars, the species population has halved, with some predicting possible extinction.
Tuna is another seriously over-fished species. In the wild, these large fish can live over a decade (one fisherman off New England’s coast tagged one in 2004 that was found in a Mediterranean fish trap 14 years later, proving they can swim the entire Atlantic ocean).
Other fish at risk from over-fishing are:
- Anchovies (used in Worcestershire sauce). Bonsan is a good organic vegan brand.
- Sandeels (the silvery fish in puffin photos) are now banned to fish in the UK to provide food for puffins and kittiwakes – this has caused uproar in mainland Europe).
- Shrimp & krill (bottom-trawling destroys all creatures and endangered coral reefs. Krill (tiny red shrimp) are the main food for whales and other filter-feeders.
Sharks are also seriously over-fished, even though they kill less people than toasters, and are vital for ocean ecosystems (the creator of the film Jaws says he now wishes he hadn’t, due to the way sharks are now viewed).
Never buy shark fin soup (still legal to sell in the UK – it’s got no taste and used for decoration, yet involves slicing off their fins, then throwing them back in the sea to die slowly). And be careful in chip shops, as a lot of ‘cod’ is dogfish (shark) due to low cod stocks.
Plant-Based Omega 3 Supplements
Feel Vegan Omega 3 supplement is made with algae, so is vegan and sold in sustainable packaging. Formulated by expert nutritionists, expect results in around 90 days.
Consult with your GP before taking supplements, if you take other supplements. Or have any medical conditions (avoid ginkgo for epilepsy, bleeding disorders, pregnancy or nursing)
Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for humans to thrive, especially for good brain health. But it’s sometimes tricky to get these just from food, due to the risk of mercury in fish, and for vegans and vegetarians who don’t regularly consume seaweed or or other alternatives. Also pregnant women are advised not to eat certain fish, so may be deficient.
This provides the perfect blend of EPA and DHA. Together these are good for nerve cells, and also a healthy brain. The supplement can also benefit the heart, and eye health. With the add-on benefits of nicer skin and hair. It’s particularly good for rough, dry skin and scalps.
Finally, an omega 3 fatty acid supplement can help to improve mood, by boosting serotonin. But this supplement takes the nutrient from clean algae fermentation pools, where it’s pure and cruelty-free. Nor remove the main food source for fish. So now you can just get your omega 3 fatty acids, from the same place that fish do!
Nothing Fishy (use code ENGNF15 for 15% off first purchase) is a unique brand of natural health supplements, sold in glass jars with sustainable refill pouches for further orders. What makes this company unique is that it replaces fish supplements (which cause cruelty, over-fishing, by-catch and mercury) with sustainably-farmed algae alternatives. And no fishy burps!
This company has just two products, loved by thousands:
Omega 3 supplement gets its nutrients from the same place fish do – algae. The algae is sustainably-farmed and
We need ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) as our bodies can’t make it (it’s used to make EPA and DHA omega fatty acids). It’s found in ground flaxseed, walnuts and hemp seeds, but taking too much omega 6 fatty acids can negate the effects. So don’t eat (too many!) pumpkin/sunflower seeds,d and choose rapeseed oil for cooking (over sunflower, sesame or corn oils).
Vitamin D3 is a plant-based version of this important vitamin, which helps to absorb calcium and phosphate (for healthy bones and teeth) and grow strong muscles. It’s a fat-soluble vitamin, so good to consume alongside foods with fat (like nuts or seeds). Or with omega-3 fatty acid supplements.
Vitamin D is in chestnut mushrooms and in some fortified foods. But usually it’s easiest to get from a little natural sunshine and a supplement (also included in vegan multi-vits).
Although vitamin D2 supplements are vegan, vitamin D3 (the kind your body absorbs from the sun) is better. But most brands contain lanolin (sheep fat). So look for vegan-friendly D3 (usually from lichen).
Light-skinned people usually get enough vitamin D in summer by exposing skin to sunlight for half an hour. But people with darker skin (or who cover their faces or don’t go out a lot) may benefit from supplements. Read more on how to stay safe in the sun naturally.
Irish Sea Moss is an edible seaweed that’s packed with nutrients and amino acids. Avoid seaweed for thyroid disorders or shellfish allergies (even though it’s not fish).
Seaweed is a habitat for marine life and helps to regulate water quality and plays a key role in carbon sequestration, pulling carbon from the atmosphere. Think of seaweed as the lungs of the ocean, vital for a balanced and healthy marine environment.
Never harvest seaweed yourself (rocks are slippery and you need expert training to ‘give seaweed a haircut’ without removing roots). As someone once said ‘it’s seaweed to you, but the universe to a shrimp!’
Dogs are often tempted to play with seaweed fronds, but don’t let them eat it (it expands in the stomach as it dries, and is also salty).
Alternative Incomes for Fisheries
Many communities rely on fishing to bring in income, especially in rural areas. So here are alternative income ideas, which can bring in the same (or likely more) income, yet still keep fish in our seas, mercury out of our bodies and stop by-catch of seabirds, seals, dolphins, whales and sharks.
Corail is not just a funky vegan sneaker company that sells ethically-made footwear made with eco-recycled materials, but it actually employs a crew of fishermen in Marseille (France) to go out to sea each day, to collect plastic waste (and discarded fishing nets) floating on the surface, to turn into their shoes.
SeaGrown Seaweed Beer uses hand-harvested seaweed from Yorkshire’s coast with notes of caramel, toasted bread, herbs and lemon, combined with local kelp. It also makes seaweed seasonings. Harvesting seaweed offshore helps reduce agricultural runoff and algae bloom, which harms marine wildlife.
England has over 600 species of seaweed (mostly native species) although warming coastal temperatures is (like on land) affecting growing, due to climate change.
The most common type is bladderwrack (the type that looks a bit like ‘bubble wrap’ with big air bubbles). Only about 20 species of seaweed are edible, though others are also used in beauty care and some are dehydrated to make seaweed salts.
Never harvest seaweed yourself (it has to done without removing the roots – like ‘giving seaweed a haircut’). As one expert wrote – it’s seaweed to you, but the universe to a shrimp!
Also don’t let dogs play with fronds, as wet seaweed can expand in the stomach as it dries.
One Man’s Fight to Save Wild Salmon
Swimming Upstream is the story of Patsy Peril, who was born in a small fishing community near Shannon in Ireland, where his family caught fish using hemp nets. In 1929 the local hydro-electric station opened, to provide nearly all of the country’s electricity.
But even before it opened, there were concerns over how the station would block salmon from swimming upstream to spawn, and these concerns were well-founded as numbers have dived ever since.
Now there are also fish farms in the Shannon estuary, where disease and parasites are rampant amid tightly crowded fish. This is his story of how to protect wild salmon, a subject he has covered for decades, working with the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation.
Ecological Roles of Wild Salmon
When salon return to spaw in freshwater streams, they transport essential nutrients from the ocean. Their spawning (and death) releases nitrogen and phosphorus, which are crucial for aquatic plants and algae. This supports the entire food web, from microscopic life to larger fish that feed on them.
Salmon are also a main diet for many creatures, including bears, eagles, otters and seals. Other fish (like trout) depend on salmon eggs for food). So more salmon means a thriving wildlife population, along with the growth of plankton and other aquatic plants.
When salmon die off in large numbers after spawning, the decomposing bodies nourish the surrounding forests, enhance soil quality and plant growth.
Threats to Wild Salmon Populations
Over-fishing a major threat, as populations can’t recover. Other threats are urban development, pollution and climate change (which alters the water temperature and flow patterns). That’s why it’s really important to restore degraded waterways, reduce pollution runoff and help to prevent climate change.