Flying Fish: Icon of Barbados Threatened By Climate, Algae: The 'Blue Economy' Mvmt.
Last edited Sat Nov 30, 2019, 06:23 PM - Edit history (2)
Flying fish, the undisputed icon of Barbados, features as the main ingredient in the national dish, is printed inside its passport and stamped on the one-dollar coin. But in recent years the number of flying fish has declined, driving up prices to the point that the island’s staple food is now becoming a luxury. The Down to Earth team went to find out more.
Multiple theories exist for the fall in numbers, but most of them point to climate change, which has both forced the fish to flee to cooler waters further from the coast and contributed to the massive influx of sargassum (brown algae). Since the arrival of the brown algae in the Caribbean in 2011, flying fish landings have plummeted by almost 50 percent.
Today the government, researchers and international organisations are working to help fishermen adapt to this changing climate while preserving the symbol of a nation. ~ Report filmed in partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. 'What Is Sargassum'? NOAA. https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/sargassum.html
*WATCH* Video:
https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20191129-down-earth-flying-fish-icon-barbados-under-threat-climate-change-sargassum-1
Flying fish taking off. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_fish
- "Diving Into The Blue Economy," United Nations, Jan. 15, 2019.
Can humans use the ocean as a tool for lifting people out of poverty, all the while protecting its valuable ecosystems? Certainly, say proponents of the growing sustainable blue economy movement. The first-ever Sustainable Blue Economy Conference, held in Kenya in November 2018, brought together thousands of ocean experts and activists to discuss how to sustainably use our ocean.
- What do we mean by a “blue economy”? “The blue economy comprises a range of economic sectors and related policies that together determine whether the use of ocean resources is sustainable. An important challenge of the blue economy is to understand and better manage the many aspects of oceanic sustainability, ranging from sustainable fisheries to ecosystem health to preventing pollution. Secondly, the blue economy challenges us to realize that the sustainable management of ocean resources will require collaboration across borders and sectors through a variety of partnerships, and on a scale that has not been previously achieved. This is a tall order, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) who face significant limitations.”
- Why is a healthy ocean so important for current and future generations? “The world’s oceans – their temperature, chemistry, currents and life – drive global systems that make the earth habitable for humankind. Our rainwater, drinking water, weather, climate, coastlines, much of our food, medicines and even the oxygen in the air we breathe, are all provided and regulated by the sea. Living oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reduce climate change impacts. The oceans also provide convenient transport routes for everything from food and fuel to construction materials, chemicals and household items. Moreover, UN Environment estimates the cumulative economic impact of poor ocean management practices is at least $200 billion per year.”
- What can we do to improve our ocean’s health? “The declining health of our ocean shows that the world is simply not doing enough. However, as part of the 2017 UN Ocean Conference, a diverse range of stakeholders, from local grassroots organizations to governments, NGOs and the private sector, committed to reversing the decline of ocean health through saving our mangroves, alleviating the impacts of ocean acidification, halting plastic pollution and more. Those 1,400+ commitments are now grouped into nine Communities of Ocean Action, and UN DESA is providing a platform for them to work together. Now, it is time to ramp up the implementation of such initiatives, identify gaps, exchange ideas, find creative solutions, scale up where possible and, most importantly, to work together to implement Sustainable Development Goal 14 – life under water.”...
https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/sustainable/blue-economy.html
