West Marine partners to protect fish populations
WATSONVILLE, Calif. – Fishing, boating and ocean conservancy groups, as well as marine manufacturers, are joining forces with retailers and restaurants to launch a campaign to help protect the world’s declining fish populations, boating suppliers retailer West Marine reported in a recent statement.
The participating partners are launching a campaign to help millions of people make seafood selections that are good for the ocean, the company said. They’ve pledged to distribute five million wallet-sized copies of Blue Ocean’s Guide to Ocean Friendly Seafood to help consumers make informed choices about the seafood they buy and consume – and help reverse the drop in fish populations.
The coalition includes representatives from fishing groups such as: American Sportfishing Association, International Game Fish Association, American Albacore Fishing Association, Coastside Fishing Club, United Anglers of Southern California and Coastal Conservation Association. Other partners in the distribution campaign include Blue Ocean Institute, Oceana, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, West Marine, Chefs Collaborative and the Green Restaurant Association.
The groups are kicking off the distribution campaign by sending guides to their combined 1 million-plus members. Each guide also contains a link to an online questionnaire to assess how and why people make certain seafood choices. Every 50th person to fill out the questionnaire, available at www.blueocean.org/feedback starting September 18, will receive a free gift.
“Getting good seafood information out like this will help millions of seafood lovers see how they can enjoy seafood and help the ocean — at the same time,” said Blue Ocean President and Co-Founder Dr. Carl Safina. “Our partnership with West Marine – which is financing this tremendous effort – and the committed organizations who are spreading the word among their members can really help improve fisheries, increase the abundance of fish, and improve our ability to enjoy our oceans.”
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