What an Expo!
I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at the NJ Global Green Expo at Liberty State Park last weekend. Despite the rain on Sunday, the turnout was good for its inaugural year. I met so many resourceful and dedicated people over the course of the three days. I both laughed and was brought to tears by the presentations, but the best part was learning about the environment from top naturalists, doctors and activists, including Dr. Sylvia Earle, Ted Danson, Jeff Corwin and Ed Begley Jr. to name a few. I got the chance to connect with leaders in the New Jersey alternative energy industries and learned that innovation is rapidly evolving and will present many exciting projects that are just around the corner.
However, the research and findings about our current green situation is not good, no matter how you slice it. The following are a few facts that left an impression on me:
- As a result of over-fishing and lack of regulation, one third of our fish have been eliminated from our seas.
- Swordfish continues to be a threatening source of toxic mercury in our diets, but it is not the only fish we need to be wary of.
- According to the EPA, one out of every six women of childbearing age in the United States may have blood mercury concentrations high enough to damage a developing fetus.
- If, as Americans, we continue at our current rate of daily product and resource consumption, we will need three more worlds of resources to fulfill the demand.
I left the Global Green Expo with this: I need to buy less, conserve more and leave some for others who need it. I am committed to living a simpler and more sustainable life today. I hope you will join me!
For more information, please do as I have and check out the Oceana Web site (protecting the world’s oceans) at Oceana.org.
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The good news is there is a self-regulating mechanism with fish consumption, at least for us recreational fisherman. Yes, there are high levels of mercury in some of our favorite fish (such as tuna) but un/fortunately we don't get to eat very much of it. Conservation movements here, overfishing in the Mediterranean, and increased demand for fish means every year our limits are lower, minimum size is higher, and there is generally less fish on the table.
It's unfortunate because everyone is hurt. Commercial fisherman are being put out of business, boat building and tourism along the Atlantic coast are depressed, and the result is over regulation. Regulations tend to be reactionary, corrective, and overly stringent. We need to come up with quotas that are balanced, sustainable, and coordinated on both sides of the ocean. This not only allows for continued enjoyment of the food and the sport but exposes more people to the issues such as levels of toxins. More people you have catching and consuming fish increases the pressure to make sure it is safe and available. More exposure is more concern, publicity, and awareness which should put pressure on EPA and industry to stop the junk that is going into the water in the first place.