An article in The Guardian discusses the impacts of a report by Greenpeace on the presence of discarded fishing gear in the ocean.
From the article: "Lost and abandoned fishing gear which is deadly to marine life makes up the majority of large plastic pollution in the oceans, according to a report by Greenpeace."
"More than 640,000 tonnes of nets, lines, pots and traps used in commercial fishing are dumped and discarded in the sea every year, the same weight as 55,000 double-decker buses."
Louisa Casson from Greenpeace UK was quoted as saying, "The world’s governments must take action to protect our global oceans, and hold the under-regulated fishing industry to account for its dangerous waste."
The report stated, "Nets and lines can pose a threat to wildlife for years or decades, ensnaring everything from small fish and crustaceans to endangered turtles, seabirds and even whales."
The fishing industry has disastrous effects on the ocean, pollution, fish populations, biodiversity, not to mention the harm caused to the trillions (yes, trillions) of marine animals killed for 10 minutes of our sensory pleasure. The demand for seafood from rich nations is also affecting the fishing industries in poorer countries where they rely on fish for sustenance and cannot easily find alternatives. Consider removing seafood from your diet and replacing it with plant-based foods.
Read more in the article published in The Guardian.
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