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How much we humans are dependent on the oceans and seafood:
- Consumption:
When I was growing up, fish were considered “brain food.” I was told that eating fish was good for you and would make you smart. Mothers who consume seafood may provide benefits to the developing fetal nervous system from fatty acids in
the seafood. Seafood is a good source of high-quality protein, is low in saturated fat, and is rich in many micronutrients.
As the ocean pollution is increasing by an alarming rate both through natural processes and practices of an increasingly industrialized world which is raising concerns about the contaminants found in our seafood supply.
As consumption of seafood rises, there has been an increasing awareness of the potential risks from seafood consumption due to the presence of microbial contaminants; persistent organic pollutants; microfiber plastics and heavy metals, especially mercury, in our oceans and inland waters.
People are therefore in a dilemma: they are told that seafood is good for them and should be consumed in larger amounts than current consumption, while at the same due to ocean pollution all the species in the oceans are getting affected and therefore people who are eating them are being directly affected.
Clearly, it should be an environmental priority to eliminate the sources of contamination of this important component of our food supply so that such a contradiction is avoided.
Worldwide seafood consumption has increased exponentially-
With regards to actual production, global capture fisheries production reached its highest-ever level of 96.4 million MT in 2018, with the top seven fishing nations of China, Indonesia, Peru, India, the Russian Federation, the United States, and Vietnam accounting for almost 50 percent of the total.
Asia has been the dominant force in the aquaculture sector, with an 89 percent share in the last two decades.
- Livelihood:
Aquaculture is fastest growing food production sector, according to FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) report.
Fishing in India is a major industry in its coastal states, employing over 14 million people. Frozen shrimp is the most exported item from India. According to the FAO of the U.S, fish production has increased more than tenfold since 1947 and doubled between 1990 and 2010
According to the CMFRI (Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute) Census 2010, there are 3,288 marine fishing villages and 1,511 marine fish landing centers in 9 maritime states and 2 union territories. The total marine fisher folk population was about 4 million comprising in 864,550 families. Nearly 61% of the fishermen families are under BPL category.
West Bengal is the largest fish producer in the country.
Globally, India stands 3rd in Fisheries and 2nd in Aquaculture production.
Therefore after knowing the importance of aquaculture, fisheries for the mankind, it is definitely our responsibility to conserve them before they also become extinct and unavailable for the coming generations. More importantly, the need of the hour is we need to reduce the plastic pollution in the oceans.
More than 60% of the plastic pollution in the oceans is being created by the garments we wear. Below are some of the steps which we should take to reduce this plastic pollution-
What can we do about to stop oceans polluted by microfibers from garments?
As I always believe in, Prevention is Better than Cure
Corporations, Companies Governments, and most importantly People should follow some necessary steps to make this world a better place for living-
- Washing machines need to be designed to reduce emissions of fibers to the environment. At the moment they are not doing this. Currently, studies are being made on whether fiber filters for washing machines are a feasible solution.
- Consumer choices can have a "significant impact" on decreasing pollution caused by microfibers when making informed decisions in how they do laundry and the products they are purchasing. Though such choices will not eliminate the issue, they may achieve a meaningful short-term reduction in harmful environmental pollution.
- Textile manufactures could also design fabrics that shed less, clothing companies could utilize them, and consumers could be more mindful.
- Use of Natural Fibers is the need of the hour. Rather than multicolor, people should use single and natural colors for their clothing
- It’s high time that, we Indian’s promote our own Khadi.
Khadi:
Khadi is a hand-woven natural fiber cloth originating from eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent. This fabric is made mainly of cotton.
The cloth is usually woven from cotton and may also include silk or wool, which are all spun into yarn on a spinning wheel called a charkha.
It is a versatile fabric, cool in summer and warm in winter.
In order to improve the look, khadi/khaddar is sometimes starched to give it a stiffer feel. It is widely accepted in fashion circles. Though khadi is being promoted in India by Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, still it has to larger audience so that people start using it extensively and thus the plastic pollution in the oceans can be reduced.
- Larger wash loads were shown to decrease the release of microfibers because of the ratio of water to the fabric. People should fill and not overfill their washing machines to around three-quarters. A 30 percent reduction of microfiber release was observed when launderers used a 30-minute wash cycle at 86F compared to the standard 85-minute cycle with a water temperature at 104F.
- Lastly, below are my two easy suggestions for the consumers-
- Buy clothes when necessary,
- Wash only when needed
I will conclude this article by a saying from a famous personality-
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.”
Same applies in this context as well.
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PK,
PK Enterprises.
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