Last week, as part of the ever growing evidence that we should pick out our hand baskets for the impending trip to the palacial 10th circle of hell, it was announced that if current trends continue there will be no more commercial fish in the ocean by 2048.
No more fish. Not gone on holiday, not back in a while dearies, try eating penguin with your chips - gone. While it can be argued that the earth will likely heal itself after we've managed to kill ourselves off, it doesn't make this kind of nonsense right. The statements were not howeled by aromatic sign wielding street corner doomsday prophets, but by large brained and educated people with quiet, concerned voices. They may still be wrong. I hope so.
This morning, I got an email from a friend about another friend saying that the proposed ban on bottom trawling is being opposed by oodles of countries - including Canada. Bottom trawling, or dragging, involves the use of massive fishing nets equipped with weights and rollers that are dragged along the ocean floor, scooping up everything. So not only do you get the fish you wanted, you get the fish you didn't want along with all the food and habitat that others fish that swim by might be interested in. You know what? Fish are like any other living thing, they need food and habitat to breed, continue, oh I don't know - LIVE and destroying it...well, it's bad. Yes, people expect to pay .99 for a tin of tuna but maybe it should cost more. Would you pay more to not have to explain to your children and grandchildren or random kids on the subway that it's your fault, in part, for being a complacent and greedy bastard in 2006 that noone can find Nemo because he's dead? You would? Well, don't tell me:
To contact the *Minister of Fisheries and Oceans*, please send an e-mail message to:
E-Mail: Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca <mailto:Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca> (Please include your postal and e-mail address)
Or write to:
*The Honourable Loyola Hearn
HOUSE OF COMMONS*
Minister, Fisheries and Oceans
Parliament Buildings, Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada, K1A 0A6

Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn has argued that such a ban, which would apply only in international waters, would be unenforceable. It's hard to enforce the "don't sell drugs" and "please don't shoot each other" laws we have too, but I don't see people standing by while officials throw up their hands and say fuck it. It's also been argued that it would decimate what's left of the fisheries out east but modern methods like trawling got there first to mess things up. Also (and this is to the best of my understanding) Canadian fisheries don't do this sort of thing in international waters anyway. You might want to drop a line to Steve, too:
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa
K1A 0A

I could give you a sample letter to use as this email I got this morning included one, but then it's more like spam. Google it, think about it, and write your own letter. Keep is short, to the facts, avoid swears and most importanly DO IT TODAY. I think letters to govt officials are even free, so don't worry about postage. Canada is a wonderful place to live, home of the free and hopefully brave. I'd like to think that if our leaders are all about the "family values" etcetera, they'd be interested in not looking like ass badgers to their grand kids.
Lastly: look for the "line caught" label when you're shopping for fish, people, or go for the tofu.