Ducks Unlimited = Conservation

I’ve never fired a gun at a duck, or for that matter at any animal. But I belonged to Ducks Unlimited for more than a decade. Why? Well first of all I love to cook wild game birds and, secondly – I believe in their cause.  I also really appreciate that hunters were working together to protect wet lands so the birds would flourish and  as an approach so they could enjoy their sport. Sustainability.

Likewise, at least in my mind, I support my local farmer’s and try to purchase from several each week. I also purchase from major grocery store chains and have begun choosing the products grown and processed in the U.S. and Canada. (My tomatoes come from Canada nearly year-round, can you believe that?)

Why? Well – it’s just a good thing to do. Sustainability and jobs.

I live in what was once a small fishing village called Ballard. It’s now a neighborhood of a much larger Seattle. As a kid many of my friends dad’s, uncles and grandfathers were commercial fisherman. Most of the boys looked forward to being old enough when they too could spend time working on the boats. But as my childhood buddies began to reach that magic age – the fishing seasons were shorter and the boats had to travel much further to complete their catch.  Even 30 years ago the fish were not as plentiful as they once were just a few short years before.

Fast forward and talk to the folks who live along any coast line of North America and they will tell a similar story – the area has lost much of the local fishing fleet. Some of it has gone the way of larger and more economical commercial fleets – but much of it is gone because the fish are not as plentiful and the fisherman couldn’t make a living.

Mahi Mahi - excellent fish to grill!

What to do? I still love fish – and other seafood – shall I purchase stuff at my grocer that comes from who-knows-where? OR—

Enter the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program. I’ve come to regard it as a version of Ducks Unlimited – but for seafood.  Here’s a snippet from their press kit:

Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch

It was once thought that the ocean’s supply of seafood could never be exhausted. Today, an ever-increasing demand for seafood is putting our oceans under severe pressure worldwide. The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program works to broaden awareness of the links between the seafood on our plates and the health of our oceans as it helps consumers and businesses choose seafood that supports environmentally responsible fishing and fish farming practices. It’s a buying decision that can contribute directly to ocean health.”

“Fisheries conservation is one of the most important marine conservation issues today,” says aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard. “It’s an environmental problem whose solution is in people’s hands every time they buy seafood. Through Seafood Watch, we want to give people the information they need to make wise choices when they shop.”

A while back I posted a photo and story featuring grilled prawns. My friend and Guest Chef Terry “Way Down in Alabama” wrote to remind me that I better be using U.S. caught Gulf Prawns! You see he lives along the Gulf Coast – an area hit hard by some of the problems I’ve mentioned. I assured him I was.  They were clearly marked on the package that I purchased in the freezer at Kroger.

Seafood Watch Guides - PDF files

Using the Seafood Watch guidelines I decided that I could purchase seafood that was on the Seafood Watch list as being in healthy supply – and that simple act on my part would both support the sustainability of fisheries and help the fisherman who earn their livelihood by catching it.  A win-win situation.

If you are interested, want to learn more and wish to down load the latest PDF of their sustainable seafood list, check out Seafood Watch.

Or if you would like to tell me I’m full of hot air – please leave a comment or send me a note. I’m always open to learning!

~blm