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An article about a 1.5 ton Sunfish, was recently published on the Dailymail. Some Indonesian fishermen found the animal stranded on the shore, and promptly tried to rescue it, by returning it to the see. It soon swept back in with the tide, dead.

Recently, GreenPeace has released a video criticizing the purse-seining industry (for tuna). Apparently, purse-seinning companies aren't happy about it. They claim that it is highly biased. Well of course they will! What else would they do?

Sit back and, be oh, right, we have a whole bunch of bycatch, whatevs. NO! Of course not! They will obviously counter GreenPeace's claims. Is this not human nature?

Whether or not either argument has significant value, I am currently unsure. However, what I will agree with, is bycatch must at all costs, be limited. Even if the purse-seining community contributes little to this issue (which is highly unlikely) it contributes! You know what happens when dozens, hundreds, or thousands of industries do the same thing? We end up with a problem. Common sense no? It seems not. When will people understand that if you do something, it is likely thousands, or millions of others do the same thing? And just as 1+1=2, 1+1,000,000 others = 1,000,001. If that makes any sense.

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I think it's about time to refine our question. We've asked: how can we stop overfishing? And the answer: well I dearly hope it's rather obvious to you, stop (or at least decrease) fishing. Common sense, no? Alright, we know the answer to question one. And guess what? Fish stocks are going up. Finally.

One billion people rely on fish: whether that be as a food source, income, or both. Let me repeat that, one billion. This rant doesn't apply to anyone part of that one billion. Now calculate in probably another 1-2 billion people who also eat fish.
Personally, I eat fish. However, for the most part I try to eat fresh-water fish, and purchase fish from sustainable species, and packages that have been approved by Marine Stewardship Council. However, I could still reduce my consumption, currently I eat fish probably less than once a week. Anyone who eats fish as anything other than a necessity (whether that be for a living or a food source), is a contributor to overfishing.
The majority of people who rely on fish, continue with traditional fishing: methods that have been thriving for thousands of years. These methods, ranging from spearfishing to hand-fishing, are for all extensive purposes sustainable. People who utilize these methods are limited in their catch, and their methods are highly selective: meaning that everything that is caught is used. Unlike the highly unsustainable fishing practiced by developed countries.
It has reached a point where these fish reliant communities are struggling to survive.
We don't only disrespect fish. We disrespect people less fortunate. People who've lived off the sea for thousands of years, are now struggling to feed themselves and their families.

 "We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others." ~Will Rogers

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Once again, industries are demanding a change in fish quotas with increasing fish stocks. Well let's think about this proposal, shall we?

For years and years we've driven fish populations down into the ditch, then with much reluctance some countries decide to impose quotas. And guess what? They WORK. Why else would they have been suggested?!?!? Guess what industries want to do now? Increase fishing quotas. Do you understand what that will do to fish populations? Plummet them right back down to the dark ages. Why? Because more fish are being fished! Again!

I am astounded.

Save the fish y'all- yup still, no.

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"Nobody cares about fish," it certainly seems that way. I read this article a couple minutes ago: Trout of order! Fish brutally stabbed with Swiss Army Knife sparks outrage. Yes it should spark outrage. My goodness. What goes through people's minds? Someone decided that the thing to do was stab a knife into the back of a trout, this trout was still alive mind you, swimming along in the river. WHY. That is the question I must ask. WHY? What could this action possibly achieve? Why do people take such an issue with fish? First the majority of the population couldn't care less about their fate in terms of overfishing, and now apparently some people believe it acceptable to stab them in the back.

This is an act of animal cruelty. Yes it's a fish! I don't care if you don't like fish. Are fish my favorite animal? No. Do I care about them? With a burning passion. Just because it doesn't look like you or me doesn't mean it doesn't deserve respect. When in our history did we reach the conclusion that animals are below us? Something to be used, extorted, tortured, and abused? Although, this article angers me, it gives me immense hope. According to it, people were enraged with this act of cruelty, so I guess the number of people who actually care about fish is rising.

Fish deserve the same respect and consideration as shark, dolphin, horse, or panda. If I have to plaster a picture of a panda on a blue-fin tuna, I will (as long as it doesn't harm their way of living).

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