As go scallops, so goes the nation. According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, even though the United States controls more ocean than any other country, 86 percent of the seafood we consume is imported. But it’s much fishier than that: While a majority of the seafood Americans eat is foreign, a third of what Americans catch is sold to foreigners. Read more here 14:18
NILS STOLPE: The New England groundfish debacle (Part IV): Is cutting back harvest really the answer?
While it’s a fact that’s hardly ever acknowledged, the assumption in fisheries management is that if the population of a stock of fish isn’t at some arbitrary level, it’s because of too much fishing. Hence the term “overfished.” Hence the mandated knee jerk reaction of the fisheries managers to not enough fish; cut back on fishing. What of other factors? They don’t count. It’s all about fishing, because fishing is all that the managers can control; it’s their Maslow’s Hammer. When it comes to the oceans it seems as if it’s about all that the industry connected mega-foundations that support the anti-fishing ENGOs with hundreds of millions of dollars a year in “donations” are interested in controlling. Read the article here
As a fisherman, I know that the Bass or Crappie I catch in one lake, does not taste the same as another lake. I feel that this maybe the same with the import export of seafood. We’re here, If you want American fish caught by an American then get on a boat or find a commercial fisherman here that you can buy from and have it overnight airmailed to you! It’s not as expensive as you would think. If the support was here, then not as many fish would be exported and you could get everything a lot fresher. It is not however, and it causes our industry to sell where they can to support their families.
A better, solution in my opinion, would be to hire one of these commercial fishermen, and charter their boat, grab your kid away from the TV and go out and catch your own! THEN, you will TRULY know where your catch came from and find a new skill and hobby!