Save our Oceans

I'm sick and tired of reading headlines about the destruction of Fish Species, Imported Seafood that barely qualifies as Seafood, Foreign Boats fishing illegally in waters they are not supposed to be in...the list goes on and on. Pollution of our Oceans by Cruise Ships dumping solid waste once out in International waters. The list goes on and on. We here at YF have a collective voice, and we have help. One of the biggest is the Florida Sportsman magazine, they are very pro active but they are limited to their readers and the contacts in Washington. You don't win a war in one fell swoop, you win the war by winning a lot of small battles. If a small bunch of activists can protect the spotted Owl, by God we can make a dent in the overwhelming disaster that is the health of our Oceans. We can find like minded people, it's called networking. And if enough people make enough noise (the squeaky wheel gets the grease) we can make a difference. YF has a collective great set of minds. I've been here awhile, and I constantly see all kinds of people helping complete strangers with problems they are having with their boats, because we all love and have a passion for boats and boating. We should therefore have the same kind of love for trying to preserve the Ocean in which we enjoy our passion.

I lived in Islamorada for 6 years prior to having to move to Central Florida to take care of my dying Parents. My stay was longer than I thought. 11 years later, I moved back to the Keys. I used to go out fishing with my neighbors who have lived in Duck Key for over 25 years, half of the time we came back with less than our limit, and 2 out of 5 trips we got skunked. We talked about this a lot, due to the fact that when I lived in Islamorada, I NEVER got skunked! I guess that what I'm trying to say, is that even the entire Florida Keys can get over fished. Granted it's the fishing capitol of the U.S., but that not might be true anymore.

Let's put our heads together, contact those concerns that want help, and give them a hand there's a lot of people who could use the power of this Forum...let's help them.

We don't have to hit a home run first up at bat, first thing we could do is nothing. Most of the fish that is caught in the U.S. is shipped over to China for processing, then shipped back to the U.S. for packaging, just so the distributor can make a few extra cents per pound. The brand Sea Pak makes pre breaded shrimp, and other items, they are pond raised in Vietnam and China and packaged here. Any "fresh" fish sold in the cases in your grocery store labeled "previously frozen" is caught elsewhere. Read the packaging before you buy...if it's not caught wild or a product of the U.S. don't buy it! If there's no market for the product, stores will quit ordering it. I would dare say collectively that all of the YF members have over one million people on their email lists. All it would take is 2 minutes to send out an email to your entire mailing list.

For example, there are certain Olive Garden restaurants that have Swordfish on their menu. When I see it I ask for the Manager, and tell him/her that I will not be eating in their establishment until the Swordfish is taken off the Menu. I then get up and leave with whoever I'm with. It's a simple thing to do but sends a loud message. And while it pains me, I do the same thing with Chilean Sea Bass.

I'm not asking for a march on Washington, we're all too busy for something like that but we can do the above. I learned a few years ago that Tyson had more Muslims working for them than anything else, therefore they stopped giving their employees paid Thanksgiving off, and instead gave them the first day of Ramadan a paid vacation. I along with everyone else I know, no longer buys Tyson products. It's a small victory, won't put Tyson out of business, but I sleep better at night.

We can pick our battles as a group, and put our numbers towards doing some good. And NYCAP, I understand that we can't stop pollution all together, but every time I went out fishing in the Keys, I always took a huge plastic contractors bag with me, and when I saw debris floating, I'd stop and pick it up. I bottom fish very rarely, I like pulling lures, so I cover a lot of ground. A lot of coastal pollution on the west coast lately was from the Tsunami that hit Japan a few years back. That's an act of God...not much we can do about that.

But back to Seafood, write everyone on your mailing list, that when they see Swordfish or Sea Bass on the menu, and it's a chain, take a few minutes to send an email to the Corporate office, telling them that neither you nor your friend network will not eat at their restaurants until you taken those items off their menu. It's simple supply and demand, if the demand goes away, there's no need to supply those products. That's the easiest way to get what you want...hit them in the wallet.

I understand what seems to be the futility of it all...but I'm one of those "never say die" kind of people. I'm sure it could be some type of character flaw.

I agree Kafue, but you can throw tons of money at a problem, and most of it goes to lining the politicians pockets....case in point look at Haiti...I laughed when all of these people showed up on TV begging to send money to Haiti to help those poor people. The politicians got rich and what is it now...12 years later, those people still have no electricity, no shelter, and not enough food, or medicine to stay healthy. So much for your donations. We need to take action...as a people, get physically involved, use your email lists...it's called networking. Spend 5 minutes a day reaching out to our new Congressmen/women and Senators. I'll do some research next week and put together a contact list of people who Chair the groups that have a voice in Washington, along with some other influential friends I have in Florida. A handful of emails won't tax any member too hard. And we all can come up with a letter on here that people can cut and paste into the emails. We'll tackle one battle at a time.

Sorry Kafue...my reading comprehension skills are a tad fried, for the last four days, I've been proofing legal documents for our latest acquisition. I understand what you're saying...let's hit them in the wallet...it's funny how that gets attention faster than anything.

And I don't mean to stray from this Thread because this is really important to me...but this is something that is so typical,
and kind of ties into China and Vietnam ramming crap down our throats, and us taking it for granted that it is what it is....

http://www.click2houston.com/news/is-discount-tide-as-effective-as-regular-tide/31390026

How's this? Everyone knows what role Sharks play, they are critical to the balance of Marine nature.

http://news.yahoo.com/china-eating-fewer-shark-fins-appetite-growing-another-143808036.html

Thanks Brian,
I was hoping you'd weigh in on this Thread.

I'd send it to one of the Moderators, but if you do get a public flogging, I'd like an invite...Ralph likes to watch too. I've never attended a public flogging,would it take place on the Pier 66 docks?