Anyone watched Seaspiracy on Netflix yet?

[Carlat86]

I watched this last night and I was genuinely shocked. I like to think I'm pretty clued up on environmental issues. I'm a bit of an information sponge when it comes to this kind of thing but I just could not believe what I was seeing. It makes me want to do something to help but what?

Thank you all for your insights on this program. I was horrified watching it, so it’s interesting to hear that perhaps it was based on old information in places. What I’m gathering is prawns are generally not sustainable/farmed with high welfare? And buying British, small boat, locally caught fish is more sustainable and less likely to involve shark/dolphin by catch and less of a contributor to plastic pollution. Would that be fair? Oh, and line caught tuna.

I was aware that fish farming has had a bad press for some years and have always tried to avoid. But most supermarket smoked salmon seems to be farmed. I had not heard about the different types of fish farming. When buying fish in the shops, is there any way to know what kind of farming method has been used?

@Rainydays200

Thank you all for your insights on this program. I was horrified watching it, so it’s interesting to hear that perhaps it was based on old information in places. What I’m gathering is prawns are generally not sustainable/farmed with high welfare? And buying British, small boat, locally caught fish is more sustainable and less likely to involve shark/dolphin by catch and less of a contributor to plastic pollution. Would that be fair? Oh, and line caught tuna.

I was aware that fish farming has had a bad press for some years and have always tried to avoid. But most supermarket smoked salmon seems to be farmed. I had not heard about the different types of fish farming. When buying fish in the shops, is there any way to know what kind of farming method has been used?

King prawns from Thailand aren't great no there are some sustainable farms but also many destructive ones. Creel caught langoustines (also called prawns in Scotland) are sustainable . Freshwater crayfish if from the UK generally are as well especially if show wild source as actually the American crayfish is an invasive species and causes serious river damage. Basically its about reading the packaging a bit more

Supermarkets and shops it can be difficult to tell. The rspca logo is supposed to show higher welfare but has been questioned a number of times and not just with farmed fish. There are some very high welfare fish farms such as Loch Duart for salmon. Generally if I'm buying smoked salmon (or farmed fish in general) I look at how much fat lines (white lines) there are. If lots and very thick it indicates the fish hasn't done that much swimming and can be a indicator of higher stock densities. Leaner and thinner white lines indicates more swimming and therefore lower stock density. Lower stocking density is associated with higher welfare the fish have more space to swim. Appreciate though that this isn't always accurate way of telling and I'm very used to fish. I tend to read the packaging carefully but it's difficult with supermarket branded especially as there is often little detail. Quite often I will buy larger quantity size of smoked salmon from reputable sources and freeze into portion sizes.

I haven't eaten tuna or prawns for years because these issues have been known about for some time.

I will only eat fish caught in British waters with the MCS stamp on them.

Usually mackerel, cod or organic farmed salmon.

I think a lot of trust has been lost after the horse meat scandal.

I don't eat meat so it's easy for me but I'm not against someone catching and eating their own fish in a sustainable way. I have a problem with mass production and slaughter houses.

I don't object to lab grown meat in principle but I won't be eating it. It will come at a high price and too tempting for someone to pass off the real thing as lab grown. Where there's big money to be made corners are cut.

@WomenAreBornNotWorn

People not eating fish would be a start. It's horrific to watch.

Actually no. That wouldn't help. If people don't eat fish they will move onto something else which will be land based which is actually worse for the environment.

What people should do is eat locally sourced fish.

It's a documentary which shows the extreme and was created by vegan activists. Some if it yes I agree is bad but that's not what's happening all over and the fish stocks are thriving not being diminished.

I watched a video from a professor and found that a bit more balanced I'll post it in a sec.

Professor of fisheries from university of Washington:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=dZwbsggs6Lc&t=55s

But more sensible not so extreme...

I also watched the Cornish fishing series earlier this year. It seemed pretty clear there that fish stocks were a LOT less than they used to me. Are they sustainable? Just about was what I took from that series. But not if the big trawlers keep doing their thing

@Rainydays200

I also watched the Cornish fishing series earlier this year. It seemed pretty clear there that fish stocks were a LOT less than they used to me. Are they sustainable? Just about was what I took from that series. But not if the big trawlers keep doing their thing

In the UK yes fish stocks are recovering well. The med is pretty bad shape though.

www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/status-of-marine-fish-stocks-4/assessment

Researchers are also finding a shift in distribution as waters warm up so hake is increasing in numbers around the UK and mackerel is shifting.

It's obviously species dependent.

I have never purchased tuna because of concerns regarding dolphins (my sons buy it but in very small quantities.

I also have concerns over quorn, tofu and soya based products and the manufacturing involved.
I try to shop from farm shops where possible but it’s difficult. We eat more seafood than fish and buy this locally at the coast.

This is a fascinating thread thanks to all who shared their knowledge

@wheresmymojo

Ultimately intensive farming of anything is bad news.

That's what has gone wrong....putting profit above everything else.

The best we can individually do is stick to finding small, local, ethical producers of things we want. Avoid processed foods. Eat seasonally and what can be produced in our country and it's waters.

I couldn't agree with you more.
After watching this programme I was utterly shocked to see the damage the huge trawling nets did to the sea floor, not only catching everything in its way but churning up the bottom, destroying anything that grows there. Comparison to deforestation was shocking.

@Scottishskifun , very balanced posts and thank you for taking the time to answer questions, i was very "Never going to eat fish again" after watching it but now i know that there are ways to eat fish that are more environmentally friendly, just a shame i live miles away from the coast.

[quote LemmysAceCard]@Scottishskifun , very balanced posts and thank you for taking the time to answer questions, i was very "Never going to eat fish again" after watching it but now i know that there are ways to eat fish that are more environmentally friendly, just a shame i live miles away from the coast.[/quote]
Happy to give the other perspectives of what can and is being done which in all honesty the maker should have presented in the first place to have a balanced documentary!

Worth checking out if you have any rainbow trout natural pond system farms nearby it's very underrated and tasty fish, delicious smoked as well! Generally they are fairly low impact, use a pond weed irrigation system and are monitored for water consumption and flow back to the rivers.

One silver lining of brexit fishing fiasco is that many smaller sustainable fishing boats are now selling direct to the public with next day delivery so it is possible to find some sustainable fish you can get delivered and as its fresh you can freeze it then use at your leisure 🙂