The Environmental Impact of the Fishing Industry, Part 2 of 2

On today’s program, we’ll look at the other harmful environmental effects of the fishing industry. First, let’s consider plastic pollution. Today, most of the fishing industry’s nets, lines, and other fishing gear are made of plastic, and every year a significant amount of this equipment is lost or abandoned in the ocean. This waste material is a threat to all marine life. If left unchecked, oceanic plastic pollution will be a factor in the ongoing sixth mass extinction of wildlife. Another environmental problem is illegal fishing. The United Nations estimates that it accounts for 30% of all fish-people caught.

“Did you know that the fish products that you see packaged in your supermarket are most likely to have come from fish farms like this one? These facilities are basically floating factory farms where fish often spend their brief lives confined in cramped, dirty, and lice-ridden pens, waiting to be sucked up onto boats for slaughter or transport to land.” These fish-factories are breeding grounds for viruses, diseases, and infections. The feces from the hundreds of thousands of fish-people in these fish-people factories cause massive algal blooms which lower the oxygen content of the water. As a result factory-raised fish-people can die from asphyxiation.

“Scientists have proven that they feel pain and feel joy, and yet the laws are lacking to protect them. We must do more to fight for the animals that are currently trapped in this cruel system.” In 2021, the documentary film, “Seaspiracy” was released and quickly became one of the top ten most popular films on Netflix. in March 2023, the United Nations signed an international agreement called the High Seas Treaty. But is this Treaty sufficient to save our oceans and our planet? Our Most Beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) often reminds us that, to truly protect marine life, the oceans, and our world, there is only one solution: a global shift to the vegan lifestyle.