Fishy business

I got chatting to someone in the pub the other day. The subject of eating high protein food while cycling came up and tuna was suggested as a solution. Unfortunatly I responded a bit abruptly and was really dissapointed at not communicating more skillfully. It's been turning over in my mind since then so please allow me to say some things now and, please, if you feel moved, visit www.www.panda.org/tuna

The Atlantic Blue fin tuna is one of the oceans largest fish with an annual migratory pattern that takes it right across the ocean from the coasts of America to the Mediterranean sea where it comes to breed. This fantastic journey has been compared to the migration of the North American Wildebeest so epic is its scale. Problem is though it ain't going to be around much longer if something drastic doesn't happen.

There are 3 companies that control the Tuna fishing industry (all based in the Med), they wait till the Tuna go there to spawn then send up spotter planes to find the shoals. Fishing ships are then sent in and round the fish up in nets, they are then guided into large metal keeping pens (stationed offshore) where the tuna are fattened up.

Attempts to put quotas on the industry have failed pathetically as from the offshore pens the majority of the fish go straight onto waiting ships where they are flash frozen and transported around the world, especially to Japan where Tuna sushi is very popular. The rest ends up in our supermarkets, restaurants, sandwich bars etc.

We're all busy people and the plights of this world can be overwhelming. But surely surely it can't be right that a handfull of businesses get grossly rich while wiping out an entire species for future generations- and quite possibly within our life times too.

It is possible to do make conscious consumer choices. If you don't feel able to stop eating Tuna, there are sustainable alternatives. This link will take you directly to some sound advice:http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/smart_fishing/bluefin_tuna/what_you_can_do/

If you can make time, the link at the top of this post gives the complete low down.It's a fascinating insight into a truly beautiful creature.

Thankyou for listening friends.