Japan, it seems, is trying hard to encourage its citizens to eat more fish….so I read in the Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703775504575135952519129266.html)

Yuka Hayashi’s article states….

Fish consumption[in Japan] has been steadily declining. Per capita fish-eating fell below that of meat for the first time in 2006. …So Japanese bureaucrats are resorting to unusual means to keep their nation’s fish gobbling from shrinking further.

Rock singers dressed as fishermen sing paeans to ocean creatures through supermarket sound systems. Fish-promotion associations take schoolkids to beaches and fish markets and issue “Fish Meister” certificates to grown-ups. Others are trying to take the inconvenience out of eating, offering up filleted fish—and prompting hand-wringing by traditionalists concerned about the decline of Japanese gastronomy.

Then there is a quote:

“We were born in a nation with a gift of great fish,” said Yusuke Ochi, a 29-year-old ad agency employee who got hooked on fish after working on seafood menus. “It’s a shame not to enjoy it.”

Well, God’s gift of fish is running out. Ironically, Japan has been pulling out all of the stops recently to prevent a ban on bluefin tuna fishing. No matter that they are leading the rush towards the tuna’s seemingly inevitable extinction. They succeeded: despite the United States’ efforts, at a recent meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the proposed ban was stopped – Japan, Canada and other countries decrying the effects that such a prohibition would have had on fishermen (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8574775.stm)

Naturally, the concept of maintaining fish populations so that fishermen’s jobs could be sustained proved too abstruse an argument for the delegates. Instead, we are seeing a reprise of the Canadian cod disaster –driving the fish AND the fishermen’s jobs to oblivion at the same time.

The European Union, although it tried to support the ban this time, has not covered itself in glory over the years. They have, in fact, consistently lobbied for much higher catches than the science indicates is sustainable (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/richardblack/2010/03/the_frustration_of_conservatio.html)

Few countries, it seems, have the guts to think long-term. And lest you feel this article to be a tad smug – rest of the world irresponsible, USA on the side of the angels – of course America has not been too consistent in its pursuit of environmental excellence. We got one right this time, though.

So what on earth can be done? Again, it is down to us individuals. We have to choose sustainable fish or NOTHING. Thankfully, fishmongers and supermarkets are finally getting the picture. I have a local Wegmans (www.wegmans.com, and also in detail, https://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&partNumber=UNIVERSAL_17269), which is making spectacular progress in serving fish that is genuinely fished sustainably, or farmed in a verifiably non-polluting, non-destructive way (as farmed fish can be just as destructive to the environment). If this topic interests you, visit the wonderful seafood guide found at the Monterey Bay Aquarium site (http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/download.aspx) and learn more about the issues with the Ocean Conservancy (http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ftf_home).

It’s up to you and me.

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