Don't take that tuna sandwich for granted [We're running out of oil AND FISH]

Capital Times ^ | 4-19-06 | Robert Ovetz

[patton]

darn...another language, I can't spell in. LOL.

[bushbotbasher]

Because it makes sense to me:

World Population, 1950: 2,556,517,137

World Population, 2005: 6,451,058,790

(US Census Bureau)

2.5x the population. Has the population of Tuna, Swordfish, etc increased at the same rate?

Can't we assume that populations of fish (and other food sources) are being depleted just because of the sheer size of humanity?

I think another posted somewhat sarcastically, that we're due for a pandemic or a nuclear war. He's got a point. In terms of evolution, species that grow faster than their food supply are often decimated by disease, cannibalism, and out and out starvation, to bring things back into harmony.

Why should we expect man, an animal in its own right, to be any different?

[TheLion]

Deep sea farms are becoming more popular. They anchor huge netted cages that can later be brought up to the surface.

[SJackson]

Can't we assume that populations of fish (and other food sources) are being depleted just because of the sheer size of humanity?

Yes. As others have noted, we'll have to grow fish. A relatively simple task which American's will do. And if we have to reduce the tuna or swordfish catch, fine, no one will starve and other countries will harvest them for us.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

He's got a point. In terms of evolution, species that grow faster than their food supply are often decimated by disease, cannibalism, and out and out starvation, to bring things back into harmony.

If our food supply consisted only of fish, you might have a point.

[RightWhale]

Agriculture is a major industry, maybe the major industry. Fish is also an agricultural industry of sorts, as is forestry, but fish are not so visible. Fish should be possible to industrialize completely, although I haven't looked at the business from the economic standpoint.

[manwiththehands]

You just signed up to use that screen name, didn't you?

Welcome to FR from a kindred spirit.

[Trajan88]

yummy... "free pie and chips?" couresy of Geico :-)

[phil1750]

Because it makes sense to me: World Population, 1950: 2,556,517,137 World Population, 2005: 6,451,058,790

You failed to post the figures from 1900-1930-1950. The same was said back then. This planet can't hold anymore people. Guess they were wrong back then, huh?

We'll just add more dolphin and sea turtle to our diet.

Circua 1880: The world will soon be dark as the whale oil is soon to be depleted.

[Gabz]

The U.S. has taken the right step by restricting longline fishing for tuna in the Eastern Pacific and banning it on the West Coast. Now it's time to put the pressure on other countries to do the same.

Now it's time to force major chain restaurants like Red Lobster (actually RL in particular) to start buying locally and not from the non-US longliners.

Otherwise we may start having to add these fish to the endangered species list.

Small business commercial fishermen (AKA watermen) are already on the endangered species list, especially in the mid-atlantic region.

I wonder how many of the anti-WalMart FReepeers are frequenters of such places as Red Lobster, LoneStar and other such chain venues - who all get their seafood from the rapers of the water, as opposed to getting it locally from people that respect what they are doing?

[YouGoTexasGirl]

How about catfish sushi....nigiri or a spicy catfish roll?!! We've laughed about this as we LOVE sushi but one day we just might have it on the menu! Luckily the husband loves uni and mackerel which isn't for the tastebuds of all.

[phantomworker]

Last time I went back to WI, I had some beloved smelt (schmelt). It didn't taste right. Is it still safe to eat fish from Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes or is it too polluted already?

[KarinG1]

It's that dern Mike Leavitt's fault. After he pointed out that keeping tuna under my bed would protect against bird flu I rushed out and bought two cases of it. There's probably a shortage of powdered milk by now as well, which I'm sure is putting a strain on powdered cows.

[phantomworker]

LOL!

[ClaireSolt]

NO, you don't get it. Illegal mermaids and water sprites will work the fish farms off the books as cheap labor. Outside the 3 mile limit, no labor laws will apply.

[bushbotbasher]

I was thinking of the peoples who would be hardest hit by this-- the peoples of the island communities in and around the Pacific where fish is their main food.

Obviously it won't have much affect on the American diet.

[bushbotbasher]

It seemed like a good screen name to use. I figured I'll offend somebody's sensibilities with my posting at some point, I figured I'd just get a head start by choosing a politically offensive (to some) screen name.

:-)

[okie01]

How about catfish sushi....nigiri or a spicy catfish roll?!!

Here's another one for you. Had some catfish cakes in Mississippi that were as good as, if not better, than any crab cakes I'd ever had.

[bushbotbasher]

You failed to post the figures from 1900-1930-1950. The same was said back then. This planet can't hold anymore people. Guess they were wrong back then, huh?

Me thinks you read way too much into my post.

I merely stated that the population has grown significantly in the past 50 years. Then I asked if the Tuna and Swordfish populations had grown at the same rate.

The earth can hold as many people as it needs to.

[Junior_G]

More pictures of fish please!!!