From Dr. Ray Hilborn

[edsofish]

16:11/06. REPLACING GLOBAL FISH SUPPLY WOULD COST THE RAINFORESTS: If we replaced the protein we got from fish with land based agriculture, we’d need extra grazing land equal to the entire world’s rainforest 22 times over, says eminent fisheries scientist Professor Ray Hilborn. Professor Hilborn, from Washington University, USA, has evaluated published research into the effects on the environment of protein production (including farming animals on land and catching wild fish). He found that on average, commercial fishing had a lesser impact on the environment than land-based animal farming. Seafood industries are held to “higher environmental standards generally” when compared with other food producers, he says. Fishing also compared favorably in terms of biodiversity, Professor Hilborn said. “This is interesting because biodiversity is an area where fishing has been strongly criticized.” He said the other scientists’ work shows that fishing typically reduces measured biodiversity by 30 per cent and reduces abundance of fish by one half to three quarters. “Land based agriculture has a far greater effect on biodiversity. For every acre that’s ploughed you lose 100 per cent of the biodiversity.” To see the full 12 March Scoop article go to: www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1003/S00050.htm.

[osprey26]

Thanks for the article, Ed. It makes sense to me.

[Red Abalone Diving]

I hate tofu but them eco's seem to love it dolphin shapes, aye Sean.

[zimo]

I read an article years ago that the most efficient way to raise animal protein was in water. Small ponds provided an unreal amount of protein for their size.