Fished Out
It's not too late to rescue the oceans--and keep seafood on our plates
Swordfish
Found worldwide, swordfish migrate from the tropics to temperate waters in the summer and are caught by long lines and drift nets. The fish, which use their swords to kill other fish and squid, can reach 1,400 pounds, but heavy demand for swordfish steaks has led to overfishing and pushed the average size down to less than 100 pounds. Smaller specimens are, however, less likely to have high levels of mercury contamination, a concern in large predatory fishes. In the North Atlantic, depleted swordfish populations show hints of recovery.
Smart seafood choices
A taste for seafood need not take a toll on the ocean. The Seafood Choices Alliance (seafoodchoices.com) helps cooks make wise selections; the National Audubon Society (audubon.org) and the Monterey Bay Aquarium (mbayaq.org) produce wallet-size lists seafood lovers can take to dinner or the store. Some sample suggestions:
AVOID Grouper Atlantic salmon Imported shrimp
GO EASY Pacific cod Wild shellfish Mahi-mahi
ENJOY Alaska salmon Pacific halibut Striped bass
Glow of activity
A satellite image made over many nights shows city lights and, at sea, fishing boats using bright lights to attract fish and squid.
[labels]
Sea of Japan
North Pacific Ocean
China
South Korea
Japan
Satellite imagery from the U.S. Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, processed by the NOAA National Geophysical Data Center
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