Sustainable Oceans Society

We love it when conservation groups come together for a greater cause!...Big thank you to Naked Turtle Rum and their sea turtle conservation for supporting our fundraising event next weekend July 19th! Hope to see you all there!

Our first fundraising event is in 2 weeks!! all of the proceeds go to the organization to fun future projects working with children on how to become more sustainable! Tickets are $20 which get you free drinks, food, grab bags, and more!

http://www.ted.com/talks/brian_skerry_reveals_ocean_s_glory_and_horror?utm_source=facebook&source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ios-share -492389

Great TED talk on how much we are affecting our oceans today. However, he uses the term "disappearing" that is not what is happening at all to many species of fish. What is happening is we are over fishing our oceans and leaving damaging nets, chemicals, and other marine debris in our wake.

The ocean's glory -- and horror Photographer Brian Skerry shoots life above and below the waves -- as he puts it, both the horror and the magic of the ocean. Sharing amazing, intimate shots of undersea creatures, he shows how powerful images can help make change.

Great News Hawaiian Locals! According the the 2014 CATO report Whole Foods and Safeway rank the top two grocery stores to buy sustainably caught fish! :) Both places also sell sustainably caught canned tuna. Just make sure to look for labels that say things like"Ocean safe longline" and "Pole and Line" : ) stay away from big name brands like Bumblebee and Starkist!

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/05/14/the-abcs-of-ecosystem-based-fisheries-management-part-iii/?utm_source=FishChoice+2014-05-22&utm_campaign=FishChoice+2014-05-22&utm_medium=email

This article gives a great little summary on a few of the majors dangers of unregulated commercial net fishing which are high amount of by catch, the high numbers of juvenile fish caught (bad because they haven't reproduced yet), and their role in the dwindling number of many important species of fish in the ocean.

The ABCs of Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management—Part III Reducing and minimizing bycatch According to some estimates, as much as 40 percent of fish caught around the globe is discarded at sea, dead or dying. We can't afford to continue this wasteful prac...

http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/other-resources/satellite-technology-to-keep-tabs-on-tuna-fishing-85899544531

Check out this new project the PEW is working on. They have been one of our biggest supporters from the beginning. This project is critical in reducing the number of FADs used in the ocean and holding those who abandon them and overuse them responsible for any damages caused.

Satellite Technology to Keep Tabs on Tuna Fishing The pristine waters of the western and central Pacific Ocean are dotted with thousands of small islands, ranging from low-lying atolls to jungle-covered volcanoes. This diverse region is rich in marine resources and biodiversity—wealth that feeds local communities and drives their economies.

Found this ghost fishing net washed up n sandy beach the other day...trie to haul it into my car to take it to the garbage but just this small amount was too heavy!! 100x this amount is floating in oceans all over the world, being washed up on beaches, and attaching themselves to reefs! There are at least 6 different types of net in this one ball! Commercial netting needs to become responsible!

WATCH: Swimmer Says Dolphins Protected Him From Shark A swimmer trying to help dolphins was rescued himself by an entire pod of them during an eight-hour swim in New Zealand. According to Yahoo! News, Adam Walker was attempting a 16-mile swim, partly ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcXU7G6zhjU

These nets are on a much smaller scale than the commercial nets we fight against, but just imagine the nets 10x the size of this one that are floating around our oceans. This whale was lucky to escape this ghost net, but many are not. this is just one of the many reasons why we need to start seriously regulating the commercial net fishery

Humpback Whale Shows AMAZING Appreciation After Being Freed From Nets Please check out http://www.eii.org/gwc/ for more great information on Great Whale Conservancy Be sure to see our full story on this awesome rescue here http...

Check out this article posted by Seafoodwatch.org
If we are not careful in protecting this resource and reducing the decline of several species of fish our fish prices will only skyrocket until there is simply no fish left!

WILD SEAFOOD
Plenty of Fish in the Sea?
Fish market display (Photo © Michael Melford/National Geographic)

While it may seem that there are plenty of fish in the sea, it's a different story just below the surface. Overfishing, lack of effective management and our own consumption habits are just a few factors contributing to a decline in wild fish.

Evidence of these problems abounds. Scientists know that nearly two-thirds of assessed fish populations are unhealthy and that unassessed stocks are likely in even worse shape. In just the past decade, Atlantic populations of halibut, bluefin tuna and yellowtail flounder all joined this list of species at all-time lows. The cod fishery, once a backbone of the North Atlantic economy, collapsed completely in the early 1990s. The breeding population of Atlantic bluefin tuna has been declining steeply and may disappear completely in a few years without significant, immediate management changes. Other harmful effects of fishing—some of which are preventable with modifications to gear—impact the oceans, including the accidental catch of unwanted species (bycatch) and habitat damage from fishing gear.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?
One reason is the advent of industrial-scale fishing, which began in the late 1800s and has been accompanied by significant declines in the size and abundance of fish. By the mid-1990s, these fishing practices had made it impossible for natural fish stocks to keep up. Eighty-five percent of the world's fisheries are now fully exploited, overexploited or have collapsed. Meanwhile, demand has continued to rise, to about 118 million tons in 2010—over seven times what it was in 1950.

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND?
Because the oceans seem so vast and their resources limitless, these threats are often "out of sight, out of mind." But overfishing issues are not just for future generations to endure; they're very real problems threatening our current seafood supply and the health of our oceans. The good news is that there is much we can do—if we act now.

Sustainable Oceans Society A non-profit organization which promotes sustainable fishing practices and the reduction of marine debris in the Pacific.