Help the ocean, eat less fish!

 
The plastic pollution of our oceans is one of the biggest environmental problems we are facing today.

 

As awareness is rising, many people buy less plastic products and try to avoid single-use plastic at all.

 

Nevertheless the amount of plastic in the seas is estimated to double in the next 20 years.

 

We are frequently cleaning beaches in Fuerteventura.

 

Beside the typical single- use plastic products, our most frequent find is fishing gear.

 

Discarded or lost fishing nets, longlines, ropes, crates, baskets and parts of FADs (fish aggregating devices).
 

Actually fishing gear is the biggest single source of plastic in our seas. An estimated 46% of all ocean plastic goes back to fishing.

 
As we know, drifting ghostnets, ropes and derelict fishinggear threaten and kill marine animals of all kinds and sizes. About 640,000 tons of nets are lost in our seas every year.
 
Nowadays most of the nets and lines are made of highly resistent materials like nylon and polyester. As those materials are super strong and durable, they last for decades (unlike the natural fiber gear that was used not so long ago)

 
Ghostnets are drifting death traps that cause harm and end countless lives before they finally turn into micro plastic …
 
Overfishing has already led to the breakdown of entire sea ecosystems. The Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that over 70% of the worlds fish species are either fully exploited or depleted. Many species are already extinct due to overfishing.
 
Another terrible issue that comes with industrial fishing is by-catch.
Approx 20% of all fish caught commercially is by-catch, including sharks, dolphins, seals and turtles. Those beautiful creatures die for no reason.
 
The huge nets used in trawling are getting dragged along the sea bottom destroying reefs and corals leaving the niches of many species uninhabitable.

 
Aqua farming is no solution neither. In fish farms, thousands of  fishes are crammed together which makes them susceptible for diseases. Their large number produces a lot of feces which pollute the nearby waters. Farmed fish is fed with fish and ironically it needs more fish to bred one than it will ever weight.
 
Worlds population is constantly growing and so is the gap between the supply of fish and the demand. Better sooner than later we have to face this reality and change our habits.

 
We have a lot of plant based foods to replace seafood which are even healthier and equally yummy.
 
If you wanna help the ocean EAT LESS FISH.
 
Thank you!!!!!