Are you buying fish from slave owners? You might be.

Vannak Prum set out one day to find work. His wife would be giving birth in 2 months. He told her he would be back by then with provision for the medical bills. He came back nearly 5 years later. He was taken by a Thailand fishing boat to sea and did not see land for a 3 year duration. He worked 20 hour days filled with drugs to keep him awake and abuse and fear. He finally managed to escape. This is not a rare occurrence. The fishing industry in Thailand has human trafficking that is large enough to keep up with their fishing demands. Thailand is the world's third largest exporter of fish. The industry is also major supplier to the US as well.


The story was on NPR this morning. As I listened I thought about the lack of respect these pirate fishermen have for life. They disrespect the life of the slaves, the fishes, and the delicate ecology of the Ocean, more on the last two in a second. Thailand fishermen are not the only ones either. Over 3/4 of the fish consumed in America comes from other countries whose regulations are few and far between in keeping people and the environment safe. Yet we are a fuel for their disrespect and many of us do not know it. I want to help relay the message to people who I know wouldn't support this if they knew.

One of the major reasons I stopped eating fish is not because I feel bad for them although that has become a reason. It was because I found out that the industry world round is a large reason why many people are starving in fishing villages such as in the East African  Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya where famine killed between 50,000-100,000 people last year. Drought also had a major play there. However, there are many other countries where people are suffering starvation and death because of illegal overfishing. The large fishing boats with better equipment and more man power come and literally empty the water in some cases. The people are unable to get food due to this because there is no food left when they are done.

                                   
Over Fishing also upsets the balance of the Oceans eco-system and are killing off entire species that do not have the time to reproduce. This will effect larger fishes and continue up the food chain because there is no food for them as well. Fish farms also do not help the problem. Smaller fish are still caught in mass amounts to feed the fish on the farms still upsetting the eco-system. Fish farming is basically just another way to make money not protect the oceans.

Many people in the fitness industry teach that fish is very healthy for you. Shell fish has tons of cholesterol. Salmon, the holy grail of health, is filled with Mercury and chemicals from pollution or hormones from farms. Basically fish might have been healthier in the past but not anymore. Plus the omega vitamins that Salmon gives you are found in many other food sources and so is protein. Walnuts, Flax Seeds, Beans, and Squash are among some.

There are ways we can ensure at the least that we are not contributing to slavery. One way is to buy local and sustainably caught fish. For example if you live in NJ, buy from local fisherman who are following the rules and not harming the environment. You can go to Whole Foods and buy the fish with the Green label which insures that you are buying responsibly. You can cut out fish all together and find your nutrients in beans, nuts, rice, and many vegan products on the market. Trust me there are plenty of delicious recipes now. It is easier than ever to eat a plant based, vegan, and family friendly food.

You may say that buying fish in these ways is more expensive. It is. However, the bible says, "money is the root of all evil" It is because people let money dictate what is right and wrong. This is about respect for life. I would rather feed my family beans and rice from a local market than buy cheap fish. It just isn't worth contributing to the world problems that directly effect innocent people's lives. I do believe that the more people who know the less pirated fish will be bought though. The power is in our hands. We can stand up for the people, the fish, and the ocean and respect our World and our bodies or we can continue to trudge along putting it out of our minds because we are too busy to care.  
http://seafoodhealthfacts.org/seafood_choices/overview_industry.php