The ocean is one of the largest carbon dioxide (CO2) sinks on the planet. It naturally absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere and can store it for thousands of years. However, since the Industrial Revolution the ocean been trying to keep up with the extra emissions from humans. Here’s the chemistry lesson:
When CO2 is absorbed by the ocean it reacts with water (H2O) to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). CO2 + H2O = H2CO3
Our ocean acidification communications strategy enhances our work to push the Canadian government to develop effective climate policy. Living Oceans sounded the alarm about ocean acidification in Canada, an unknown subject to most people. In 2010 we set out to change that through an information campaign featuring print publications, e-newsletters and action alerts that aimed to increase political, media and public awareness of ocean acidification. The first place we went with our message was to Ottawa.
Our oceans’ inhabitants are in trouble. 75 percent of the world’s fisheries are either fully exploited, over-exploited or have collapsed. Worldwide fishing capacity is 2.5 times larger than what the oceans are able to sustainably produce. It’s time for humans to change the way we use the ocean’s once bountiful resources, because there are no longer plenty of fish in the sea.
Fishing Gear
At least half of our seafood comes from fish farming or ‘aquaculture.’ Fish farming is an incredibly diverse industry. It can occur in open water, semi-contained or contained systems, and involve countless different species and rearing methods. Different types of fish farming also cause a wide range and intensity of environmental impacts.
SeaChoice retail partner, the Overwaitea Food Group, became the first Canadian retailer to offer a sustainable source of farmed salmon. Building on their commitment to seafood sustainability, Overwaitea positioned themselves as the exclusive North American retailer for sustainably farmed coho salmon sold under the brand SweetSpring.
The coho comes from a land-based closed containment salmon farm in Washington State that made news when it received a “Best Choice” sustainability ranking from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and SeaChoice.
Living Oceans Society is proud to help Canada’s largest sushi provider, Bento Nouveau provide ocean-friendly sushi options to Canadians from coast to coast.
Across Canada, you can find SeaChoice stickers on Bento products that identify Green and Yellow items from the SeaChoice sushi guide. Bento sells sushi in over 1,000 locations, including Canadian grocery stores, cafeterias, malls and food courts.
SOINTULA, B.C.— Another small Japanese vessel has been located intact among masses of debris accumulating on Vancouver Island’s western shores. Living Oceans Society’s Will Soltau made the discovery while on helicopter surveillance over the west coast of northern Vancouver Island on January 16. The small boat was approximately six meters in length, similar to a skiff found on Spring Island outside the village of Kyuquot, B.C. in August 2012.
Closed containment aquaculture offers a viable, sustainable alternative to the environmental impacts of net pen salmon farming. The top Canadian food retailers have joined with SeaChoice to embrace this new technology by asking the government to financially support closed containment innovations.
Retail industry giants, including Overwaitea Food Group, Safeway and Loblaws have written to to Canadian government officials expressing their support for closed containment and the need for federal support of this opportunity for sustainable aquaculture development.
Living Oceans Society works to protect the ocean by improving fisheries policy and management. Sometimes, we do this by writing scientific reports: Our campaigners have co-authored How We Fish Matters, a report on the ecological impacts of Canadian fishing gears, and another on bycatch in the British Columbia trawl fishery.
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