The U.S. government can do its share by aggressively implementing the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996, signed into law by President Clinton, to stop overfishing and protect marine habitat. Tougher coastal zoning laws would help prevent the destruction of seashore habitat on which 75 percent of marine fish depend. Approximately half of the world's saltmarshes and mangrove forests have been destroyed, as much as 30 percent of its coral reefs are in critical condition, and coastal estuaries around the globe are in trouble. The number of fish advisories, warning those who fish for recreation or subsistence to limit or avoid consumption because of one or more contaminants in the fish, has been increasing in recent years, as documented in an April 1998 NRDC report. Internationally, The United States must take a leadership role in securing prompt and effective implementation of the new global treaty governing international fishing, in setting limits for environmentally sound aquaculture, and in calling for an international summit to establish timetables and targets for shifting the focus of the global fishing industry away from activities that contribute to overfishing and toward job retraining, boat buybacks, and the development of sustainable fishing practices.
Concerned consumers can do their part by learning which fish can be eaten responsibly.
Fish to be less concerned about, at least for now, include Alaska salmon, striped bass, mahi-mahi, Dungeness crab, Alaska halibut, tilapia, rainbow trout, and catfish. While the situation may seem grim, analysts assert that depleted fish populations can bounce back if pressure on them is reduced and habitat protected. Restoring marine fisheries to sustainability can help meet the food needs of billions of people worldwide and protect a key component of the complex ocean ecosystems that sustain life on earth. Of course, the first step is overcoming public perception that marine environments provide limitless resources. Only then will businesses and politicians really start to take notice, and only then can we truly enjoy the marine delicacies on our plates, knowing that our children's children will also be enjoying them decades from now.