It seems that krill harvesting is processed for food in salmon farms, home aquariums, and for human consumption in something called Krill Oil.
The web sheet Natural News argues that a more eco-conscious choice for marine Omega 3 oils is “green-lipped mussel oil” from “aquatic farms that are not fed anything other than the natural phytoplankton circulating in the water.”
They go on to add:
The difference between “good” fish farms and “bad” fish farms is found in how they feed their fish: If other fish (or krill) have to be caught, processed and fed to the larger fish in an aquatic fishery, then that’s highly destructive to the larger food chain (and many salmon farms fall into this category). But if the aquaculture farms inject no food whatsoever into the fish populations, and they feed only on the naturally-circulating low-level food sources in the ocean waters, then it’s a “good” aquaculture farm. (Such is the case with green-lipped mussels farmed off the coast of New Zealand.)
I don’t know if it’s possible to find out if the fish farm fish you buy comes from an eco-conscious farm or not, but I suppose it couldn’t hurt to ask.
Translation from Chinese (I think): “Not all traditions deserve to be preserved. Put an end to whaling in Japan.”
New from the world of whales:
Another list (with pictures) of graphic and/or disturbing environmentalist press campaigns (Trendhunter)
J2, a killer whale in Puget Sound is over 100 years old…that’s almost 4 “Kurt Cobain’s” (Seattle PI)
It took 9.5 months and 12,849 updates to Tweet Moby Dick, now…on to Alice in Winderland (Publicdomain Twitter)
“Scientists have documented the first known migration of blue whales from the coast of California to areas off British Columbia and the Gulf of Alaska since the end of commercial whaling in 1965.” (Del Mar Times)
New paper from the NOAA shows that the Soviet Union killed more than 200,000 whales illegally between 1947 and 1973. It also says the Soviets are responsible for the extinction of eastern Pacific right whale populations. (Discovery)
Aussie government cuts $300,000 Special Envoy on Whaling job (News.com.au)
Scientists use both ancient and modern methods to determine that in the past there were more fish and whales than there are now (Guardian)
They can grow up to 55 feet long and weigh over 70 tons
They were known as the “right whales” for hunting due to high yield of oil and baleen, slow movement, proximity to shore, and their propensity to float when dead.
They’re extinct in European waters, and at the turn of the 20th century fewer than a hundred existed in North American waters.
Scientists estimate there are currently 325-400 North Atlantic Right Whales
They are no longer hunted, but they are prone to collisions with ships and to being entangled in fishing gear – nearly 85 percent of adults show scars from entanglement.
In December, a North Atlantic Right Whale was spotted in the Azores, the first time since the early 20th century.
Scientists believe that last year, probably for the first time since the 1600s, not one North Atlantic Right Whale was killed by human hands.
What’s working?:
Shipping lane changes, compulsory or voluntary, have reduced collisions
Bush administration mandated last year lower speed limits in coastal waters
US is introducing new gear restrictions aimed to lower fishing entanglements. Canada is considering doing the same thing.
Recent Comments