海角大神

Changing the future of fish

There are several organizations worldwide working to create a more sustainable food system.

聽to聽the U.聽N.聽Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 鈥淔ish represents a valuable source of proteins and nutrients in the diet of many countries and its importance in contributing to food security is rising significantly.鈥�

This week, March 10鈥�13,聽Slow Food New Orleans 聽"Slow Fish 2016 in New Orleans: Gateway to the Americas." The event was previously held every two years in Genoa, Italy, and Slow Fish 2016 will be the first time the event is held in the Western Hemisphere. It will be a gathering of Slow Fish delegates, fishers, scientists, chefs, students, and food artisans from all over the globe and include a public seafood festival. The event is meant to be an opportunity for attendees to discuss the issues that are affecting oceans and fisheries worldwide听补苍诲 to develop sustainable strategies for the farming, catching, and consumption of seafood. 聽

The theme, 鈥淕ateway to the Americas,鈥� signifies the history of New Orleans as the central port of trade connecting the Americas; it also acts as an inclusive invitation for Slow Fish and Slow Food delegates throughout North, Central, and South America to attend the event. The festival is designed to engage the public in a 鈥渃elebration of the diversity of fishing and culinary cultures across the Americas to promote the Slow Food mission of good, clean, and fair food for everyone.鈥�

鈥淟ooking after the environment and the planet we live on is the most important issue of our time, and an obligation for everyone who works with food. We want to rediscover the pleasure of taking care of the Earth, together with producers, teachers, chefs, academics, farmers, food communities and above all, everyday people and families,鈥� Serena Milano, General Secretary of the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity.

Globally, fish consumption is at a record high鈥攑er capita fish consumption increased from 10 kilograms in the 1960s to more than 19 kilograms in 2012. 鈥淣ever before have people consumed so much fish or depended so greatly on the sector for their well-being,鈥� states FAO in聽. There are many organizations and individuals working worldwide to increase the sustainability of seafood, such as Slow Food New Orleans, who is hosting a sustainable seafood event later this spring.

Registration is required for Slow Fish 2016!

Slow Food New Orleans is one of many organizations worldwide that is working to create a more sustainable seafood system. The following organizations also play a role in promoting sustainable fishing and seafood practices, from Australia to South Africa to Canada:

• is an international NGO founded in 1988 in West Bengal, India. The AMCA scientists and researchers focus their work on the marine environment, climate change, coastal resource management,聽education, and research. AMCA also has its own , which serves as a training and education institution for young professionals.
• is an independent charity founded in 1965 that focuses on creating large marine sanctuaries and sustainable fisheries, as well as protecting and recovering threatened wildlife in the ocean. The Society鈥檚 new campaign, "Label My Fish," is working to change Australian law to require more information on seafood labels.
• assesses restaurants according to the sustainability of the seafood they serve and the impact that seafood has on oceans and marine life. The organization also campaigns for improved fishery operations and helps promote information about sustainable seafood. Fish2Fork reviews restaurants in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Belgium,聽United States, and Switzerland.
• was founded in 2008 as a directory tool to 鈥渇ill a crucial missing link in the supply chain.鈥� They connect buyers and sellers of sustainable seafood to make it easier to find, procure, and sell fish products. FishChoice collaborates with the leading sustainable seafood organizations who have 鈥渆stablished their credibility through science-based approaches in evaluating wild and farmed seafood production.鈥� FishChoice has seafood products from all over the world, with the majority of users in North America.
• has fish guides to inform consumers about the sustainability of different kinds of seafood. The organization focuses on many various components of the environment including oceans, energy, forests, and agriculture.
• was launched in 2009 by leading scientists and environmentalists to change the future of global tuna fisheries. The Foundation continues to include more tuna companies in their conservation efforts, with the most recently added companies being from .
• is an international nonprofit organization that was established in 1996 to 鈥渁ddress the problem of unsustainable fishing and safeguard seafood supplies for the future.鈥� The Council has its own for seafood products that ensures the products come from a certified sustainable fishery.
• is empowering individuals and businesses to make more sustainable seafood choices that protect the world鈥檚 oceans. The organization mainly raises public awareness about these issues through consumer guides, which direct the consumer to seafood choices that are the 鈥渂est choice鈥� for advancing sustainable seafood.
• , a fishermen-led organization with the mission to 鈥渆nhance and maintain healthy marine ecosystems by organizing a decentralized network of community-based fishermen, fish workers, and allies,鈥� was founded in 1995. NAMA is present at many events year-round, and the organization鈥檚 website highlights聽Slow Fish 2016.
• is a Malawi-based charity started in 2003, providing 鈥渁 hand UP, not a hand out.鈥� The organization has established 40 Fish Conservation Committees along the Lake Malawi shoreline that are 鈥渆mpowered to manage the fishing in their area and make all people and fishermen aware of local bylaws.鈥�
• is a conservation organization headquartered in Rhode Island that empowers sailors and boaters to become catalysts for change to save the ocean.聽It has two affiliates: 听补苍诲 .
• , Canada鈥檚 鈥渕ost comprehensive sustainable seafood program,鈥� was launched in 2006 to create healthier oceans. SeaChoice partners with the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program听补苍诲 is operated by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
• is an NGO in Tanzania that works with coastal communities to protect and conserve endangered marine species. 鈥淪ea Sense has a 鈥榞rassroots鈥� approach to conservation and has recruited and trained a network of over 60 Conservation Officers who act as 鈥榓mbassadors for conservation鈥� in their village and serve as a vital link between Sea Sense and the wider community.鈥�
• is an international nonprofit organization that focuses on conserving marine wildlife. The mission of SSCS is to 鈥渆nd the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world鈥檚 oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.鈥�
• was established by the World Wildlife Fund聽in 2004 to change South Africa鈥檚 local seafood industry and聽protect the threatened future of the oceans around South Africa. According to SASSI, 鈥渟ustainable seafood is about more than just how, and how many, fish are caught, it is also about how seafood is traded.鈥�
• is directed by Seremos Kamuturaki, who has been working since the 1990s to give a voice to fishers and fishing communities in Uganda. UFFCA works to change not only fishers鈥� rights, but also fishery policies, the protection of fish populations, and the representation of women in fishing communities.

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