Yup, 2048 has been touted as D-Day for the oceans and we…yes, us, all-of-us, need to play a part in making more conscious choices to rescue the decline.
As a mum and self-confessed “Thalassophile (n.) a lover of the sea, someone who loves the sea, ocean“, I want to see an ocean full of life, beauty, adventure, and excitement and I want to share this with my future grandchildren. The day the ocean falls into total collapse due to the loss of too many critical species and damage to sensitive and delicate ecosystems, is the day that humanity faces extinction, and that day is fast approaching.
@gregcartwrightmedia
I was lucky enough to have a Mother Whale and her calf in the backline with me while I was surfing. Thank you to @gregcartwrightmedia for capturing this unexpected gift and life-changing moment.
Watch this video to see the whales and hear my plea to humanity…
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children”
Oceans are a lifeline for human survival.
- Water makes up 72% of the earth’s surface and 70% of our body.
- Sea plants (seaweeds) produce half of the world’s oxygen and is responsible for every 2nd breath we take. It produces more oxygen than the entire world’s rain forests.
- It absorbs almost half of human-generated CO2 emissions.
- 86% of drinking water is generated by the ocean
- Oceans regulate earth’s weather and climate systems
- There are many undiscovered medicines to be found in ocean plants and creatures
Not only is the ocean so critical for human survival, it is just so beautiful and provides us with emotional and psychological benefits – spend a day at the beach and you will know what I mean.
As the Native American proverb goes: “We do not inherit the ocean from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
With scientists confirming that we could see fish-less oceans by 2048, we, The Fry Family (creators of Plant Based Meats) were determined to create a plant-based alternative to fish. Sure, we had already created the Fry’s Battered Prawn-Style Pieces – which, through our customers purchasing, resulted in over 3 million prawns from being caught in 2018! But we needed something else. We needed something bigger, better and different, and that would save our oceans and the lives of millions of sea creatures. And we needed something that would nostalgically speak to good ‘ole fashioned fish and chips, wrapped in newspaper, that also contained the same amount of omega fatty acids as tuna.
What is the state of our oceans?
- 3/4 of the world’s fisheries are exploited or depleted.
- As many as 2.7 trillion animals (fish and by-kill) are pulled from the ocean each year, by fishing methods such as trawling, purse seine, long lines, explosives, and other techniques that are damaging ecosystems.
- As many as 40% of fish caught are discarded every year.
- 1/5 of fish worldwide are incorrectly labelled. This means that seafood labels cannot be trusted.
- Animal agriculture is fuelling sea life depletion at a rapid rate. (Pigs, chickens and cows being responsible as the world’s leading oceanic predators).
- Farmed land animals are the leading causes of sea pollution, species extinction, habitat destruction and ocean dead zones. Our appetite for meat is affecting the state of our waters
Could farmed fish (aquaculture) be the answer?
Farmed fish are unhealthy: They are fed antibiotics, and are prone to many bacterial pathogens and diseases that are highly contagious due to the crowded pens in which they live. Their waste and parasites spread to nearby wild fish, plants and surrounding ecosystem too.
- The ocean is still being depleted: 1/3 of all wild fish caught are fed to farm animals and farmed fish.
- It is not energy efficient: takes up to 2kgs of fishmeal to produce 0.4kg of farm-raised fish sold in stores.
So, what can you do today to show that you care?
- Stop eating fish. There is no such thing as sustainable seafood. We can no longer fish at the scale that we are currently doing. As a society, we all need to reduce our global demand for meat and animal by-products. This means switching your meat with a plant-based alternative, taking part on Meat-Free Mondays or going entirely plant-based!
- Buy from biodynamic organic farmers. We need to reduce our use of agricultural fertilisers and chemical sprays.
- Reduce your use of plastics.
- Clean up the beach and do it with your children.
- Support organisations like the Sea Shepherds who are fighting to protect the ocean.
- Travel consciously – be an eco-traveller.
- We need commitment and change on a local, national, and global level from the public and private sector and consumers.
Remember, you vote with you $$. Every time you sit down at a restaurant or walk through a supermarket, remember that although you are only 1, your vote counts!
We are the only hope for the ocean. And the ocean is our only hope for survival.