This is the unfortunate story of the world’s fish populations. Fish are, and always have been, an integral protein source for many animals, below or above water, and especially for humans. Man catching fish for sustenance is practiced in every part of the world, from the warm tropical equator to the frigid poles. Fishing tools are some of the first artifacts archeologists look for to learn about ancient cultures and civilizations. The ideology just 2 decades ago was that the oceans are so vast, we could never have an impact. Wow, has that philosophy changed! Current commercial fish stocks are expected to cease by the year 2048. Then what?
This topic grabs at my heart strings especially because I love to eat seafood. It’s one of the reasons why I aspired to become a marine biologist. In my editing of this edition, I found myself in several contradictions. The first stems from my 1980’s childhood. I remember news media debates and reports about needing to control the world population growth, and at the same time, we were trying to figure out how to end world hunger. Being a kid, I rarely spoke up but I always thought that the latter was the solution to the former. I see a contradiction today in the poverty stricken fisherman, who says he needs to fish to feed his children, and uses destructive unsustainable methods, but he has 10 children to feed. Does it make sense to stop having so many children, then you wouldn’t have to feed so many? I see a contradiction in the large fishing companies that should be operating to sustain their industry but instead reap and horde all fish to later control the market.
These contradictions are my own personal beliefs, not of the Society. So please read this issue with an open mind, and enjoy the beauty of our member’s artworks. I found myself torn, but concluded in the end…I don’t want to know a world where there are no fish to eat. They’ve been on Earth long before any animal crawled on land. It is time for us to make sure they stay here. We cannot allow this first for humanity…no fish to eat.
~Charlie Fasano~ Ocean Artists United Against OVERFISHING e-zine: http://issuu.com/oceanartistssociety/docs/oau_overfishing
OAS Gallery page (with archived films and e-zines): http://www.oceanartistssociety.org/?page_id=249
