No fish no mo'

Just read "Aquacalypse Now: The End of Fish." It's not news. This concern has been around for quite some time.

The gist: the ocean is being over-fished and fish populations are being critically depleted.

The question is how to address it. And will whatever we do be too little too late?

Perhaps a starting point is to see where we as individuals fit into this. While I rarely eat fresh fish (and feel guilty--for health reasons--that I don't), I do have a few packets of frozen fish in the freezer. Then there are the canned items: tuna, salmon, maybe the occasional tin of smoked oysters or sardines. My Prince buys large bags of frozen shrimp at every available opportunity. We both take a daily fish oil capsule. We both delight in the occasional outing for all-you-can eat catfish and sometimes take Mama to her favorite restaurant: Red Lobster. While she eats chicken fingers (everywhere), we certainly know what to do in a seafood restaurant.

What I need to do, I suppose, is look at how those fish items (more than I thought) come to my table and tummy and then buy responsibly. I also should look at over consumption. Portion control is my personal demon anyway, but being good stewards of our planet may mean more self-restraint in partaking of her bounty. (May? Does!) Perhaps, without becoming total bores about the subject, we need to introduce the discussion of this issue to friends and family.

However, as the article points out, this is a matter of public policy which needs to be addressed by our nation at the global level. That makes it feel too big to handle, but we can, of course, if we are concerned enough, do our little bit on this and any of the big issues that concern us: a letter or call to our representatives expressing our thoughts does matter. Even if we have no specific recommendation, the call or letter is noted. When enough calls are made (as few as five can do it), the legislator will at least begin to pay attention to the issue. It's a thought.