by Matthew Rawlins

Created on: December 09, 2008

The word "Quotas" in regard to catch limits, continues to be a topic of conversation in Europe, and other parts of the world. Today, even more so, as a scarcity of a commodity looms. A multitude of conflicts now surround our once plentiful seafood delight, the Blue Fin Tuna. Environmental groups, and scientists alike, are stressing their concerns over the extinction of the Blue Fin Tuna and other marine life. Over harvesting in the commercial fishing sector; relaxed enforcement at the public, recreational level; and pirate fishing are all to blame. Remember the old saying "Eat Fish, Live Longer". Now it looks like the tables are turning, and not in our favor. If the fish don't have much longer to live, what does that say about us. Imagine, a staple in our diet no longer available. A highly recommended nutritional value, gone into the annals of history as a "Once Upon A Time" entry. When all the facts are on the table concerning quotas, and over limits, the real question is how do we manage an environment and industry that is so hard to regulate. We have a growing population that translates into a greater demand. The ever present spin-off of a growing criminal element that will ultimately feed into the spill over created by a higher demand remains a part of modern day society, unfortunately. Will our global, marine law enforcement officials walk the straight and narrow to do the right thing? There will be many variables to this global endeavor, and there will be some failures in pursuit of saving our Earth. But man is very capable of doing the right thing when its necessary. After all, there are still intelligent life forms on this planet. Managing quotas, environments, populations and industry will be a daunting task, but, in the end we will all be around that much longer.

Commercial fishing has taken a profit first attitude in many parts of the North Atlantic. The EU(European Union) estimates between 40% and 60% of all fish caught in those waters, by trawlers, is thrown away. In commercial fishing, the term "by-catch" has despicably come to mean any sea life unintentionally caught. Discarded would be a more appropriate term, as non-commercial, prohibited, and endangered species all fall into this category of not having any lucrative sales value. When the profit base is not there, the by-catch are thrown back to the seas, dead or alive. "Highgrading" is another progressive commercial fishing term used to determine profitability. The fish caught must have market

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