Makin' Waves

Here's the response I got this morning from the supermarket.

I will be sending the manager another e.mail ASAP with regards to the inadequate environmental regualtions of fisheries including the US.

Ms. Vickers,
I am thrilled that you are regular customer and that you shop for all of
environmentally friendly and organic products. It is an area that we put
a lot of effort in and we take a lot of pride in it. I think it's
fantastic that you spread the word whenever you get the chance. Please
let me know if there is anything else you would like to see in our
stores!
Lindo's accepts local fish whenever we can get it. Most
customers don't know that the abundance you speak of is limited and
inconsistent at best. The winter months are particularly lean. We have
seen an increase in wahoo supply over the last couple of weeks but that
is seasonal. We expect the tuna to increase as well as the mahi mahi
and other species presently. The problem in the winter months is that
our climate does not suit these fish. Wahoo, Tuna, and Mahi Mahi are
nomadic in nature and go wherever the food is. The weather in the
winter months also makes it very difficult for local fisherman leaving
most of them stuck on shore. Some of the more recent environmental
concerns about Tuna, Wahoo, and Mahi Mahi include the level of mercury
in fish. Unfortunately mercury levels in local fish are consistent with
mercury levels in fish in most other area's.
As to the lack environmental responsibility of the overseas
fishing industries for our imported fish - We currently get all of our
imported fish out of Connolly Seafood in Boston. We recently sent 3 of
our fish managers on a site visit. They found that the fishing industry
in the US is the most heavily regulated industry. The US government
tells the industry where to fish, when to fish, what kind of fish to
fish, what to fish with, and how much fish they can catch. We are happy
with the consistent supply of good quality product from Connolly and as
I said earlier we accept local fish whenever it is offered to us. Our
supply of imported fish does not affect what we accept locally. We take
local fish no matter what we have imported.

I would agree that most fish are at risk form over fishing
regardless how or where they are fished. However, I am confident that
Connolly at least follows all of the environmental regulations as per
the US Government.

Thank you for shopping with us and I hope this has shed some light on
the local fish market and why the supply is inconsistent.

Zach Moniz
Manager
Lindo's Group of Companies

Here's my reply to Mr Moniz:

Mr Moniz,

Thank you so much for responding to my concerns so promptly. I respect the fact that Bermuda's local fish supply is sometimes inconsistent and limited especially in the winter and perhaps I seemed overly optimistic with regards to the availability of Bermuda's fish. I realise that even in the summer the availability is weather dependent. However, you say it is "limited and inconsistent at best". However, "at best" during the late spring and summer months there is a consistent and superfluous supply (providing there have not been several days of bad weather). I'm very glad to hear that you accept local fish whenever it is offered to you. However, even when there are many fishermen selling local fish on the side of the road I rarely see local fish at your fish counter. I'd be interested to know why that is.

I am fully aware of the mercury levels in many pelagic fish species. Scientists from the Bermuda Biological Station together with the visiting scientists from the Atlantis laboratories stated that more than 2 portions of pelagic fish a week may be harmful to human health. However, this is no excuse for you to avoid selling the fish although perhaps It would be a good idea to issue a health warning to your customers via a sign at the fish counter.

It may interest you to know that swordfish usually has the highest levels of mercury out of all the commercially available pelagic fish, while mahi-mahi is one the species with the lowest. Mahi-mahi is also a lot less threatened than swordfish.

Although you say Collony Seafoods follows US regulations many of the fish species you sell at your fish counter are overfished and/ or involve environmental degradation despite adherence these regulations. U.S legislation is rarely strict enough to ensure the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. Take salmon farming for instance, it poses a threat as escapees compete for food or breed with wild salmon, producing offspring less capable of surviving in the wild. Farmed salmon also pose a threat through passing epidemic infections and potentially lethal parasites, such as sea lice on to the wild salmon. As few as 10 sea lice can kill a smolt. The impact on the bethic environment (sea floor) surrounding salmon farms is also a concern for environmentalists. There is also the cost of having to feed the salmon so called "trash fish" which is not sustainable.

One method of fishing that I find the most appalling is bottom trawling. Nets the size of football fields are dragged across the ocean floor scooping up everything in their path while steal balls roll over and destroy deep sea habitat like sponges and corals. However, this method of fishing is perfectly legal.

Collony Seafoods obtain Atlantic cod from Georges Bank. Scientists report that cod stocks are so depleted on Georges Bank there may not be enough fish left to bring about recovery, unless drastic measures are taken to protect the female population. Are you happy to sell this fish knowing that this fishery is under so much pressure?

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/InNews/collapse2005.html

You mention that "all" your imported fish comes through Conolly Seafoods. Does this include all of your frozen fish products? Do you know exactly where they come from and to what environmental standards their producers adhere to?

Thanks again for responding to me. I do hope that will you also have the time to answer these new questions.

Regards
Lisa

Ms Vickers,

I'll give it a try.

1) "However, even when there are many fishermen selling local fish on
the side of the road I rarely see local fish at your fish counter. I'd
be interested to know why that is." -How many of the fisherman, you see
on the side of the road, are selling the Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin that
you are requesting? If you ask some of the local Fisherman like Roger
Dacosta, Drew Farias, Bobby Lambe, Jay Pedro, The West's and a slew of
others I am sure they would agree that Lindo's often will buy everything
they have. Yes it is true that usually in the late spring and summer
months the supply is better but so far this year and most of last year
the supply has been limited and inconsistent at best.
2) I only mentioned the mercury levels as a point of interest not as an
excuse. If I could get the fish I would sell it. Yes I did know that
swordfish had the highest levels of mercury and I am also aware of the
threats on the environment that fish farming poses.
3) "Collony Seafoods obtain Atlantic cod from Georges Bank. Scientists
report that cod stocks are so depleted on Georges Bank there may not
be enough fish left to bring about recovery, unless drastic measures
are taken to protect the female population. Are you happy to sell
this fish knowing that this fishery is under so much pressure?" - For
every scientist that blames the fishing industry for the depletion of
cod stocks overall there is a scientist that blames the thriving seal
population. (I am referring to the seal population off the coast of
Newfoundland.) In fact in the same article you quoted above I quote "He
said the problems with the cod are not only from overfishing, but also
from changing environmental conditions on Georges Bank. "Water
temperature on Georges Bank is three degrees above average over the last
three years. We are in the southern range of cod. Cod needs cold water,"
Mr. Howard said. But he said overfishing is the primary reason for the
decline." Does this mean fishing is responsible for 10% or 90% of the
decline? Still this does not solve the depletion dilemma but cod fish
and potatoes are a staple of Bermudians diet. In the same way you have
requested more local fish there are hundreds of people that buy cod
fish. If you can get them to stop buying it then I will have no choice
but to stop selling it.
4) "You mention that "all" your imported fish comes through Conolly
Seafoods. Does this include all of your frozen fish products? Do you
know exactly where they come from and to what environmental standards
their producers adhere to?" - I don't know where all of it comes from
but I do know that the majority comes from processing plants in Canada -
another heavily regulated industry.

The bottom line is this. You are a good customer of Lindo's and we
appreciate you. There is no conspiracy here with regard to local fish.
I will buy it whenever I can and sell it whenever I can. We are more
than happy to sell local fish and in fact we prefer selling local fish
because when it is available we sell a lot of it! I have spoken to
Patrick (the Butcher in Devonshire) and this week you should expect to
see plenty of wahoo and benita's. The Tuna and dolphin have not started
biting yet.

I will have to admit I am a little intimidated by you. When you mention
Greenpeace I think of bombs on boats and crazy guys in rubber rafts
attacking whaling vessels. I'll leave the education of the masses to
you as you seem to have a much better grip on all the facts and figures
than I do. Your site looks great! Good luck with your Phd!

Zach Moniz
Manager
Lindo's Group of Companies

My reply:

Mr. Moniz,

Thanks again for your response.

How many of the fisherman, you see
on the side of the road, are selling the Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin that
you are requesting?

Granted, not all of them are selling these species but I would be happy to see coney and jacks in Lindo's. Indeed, a variety would be great. I could come to you and buy coney one week and wahoo the next ;-) I wasn't demanding that you always have the best local fish for sale.

If you ask some of the local Fisherman like Roger
Dacosta, Drew Farias, Bobby Lambe, Jay Pedro, The West's and a slew of
others I am sure they would agree that Lindo's often will buy everything
they have.

OK I believe you! :-)

2) I only mentioned the mercury levels as a point of interest not as an
excuse. If I could get the fish I would sell it. Yes I did know that
swordfish had the highest levels of mercury and I am also aware of the
threats on the environment that fish farming poses.

OK.

For every scientist that blames the fishing industry for the depletion of
cod stocks overall there is a scientist that blames the thriving seal
population. (I am referring to the seal population off the coast of
Newfoundland.)

I'd be interested to see how many scientists you can find who blame the seals. I don't think there are many, if any!

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/no-cod-blame-the-seals

cod fish and potatoes are a staple of Bermudians diet. In the same way you have
requested more local fish there are hundreds of people that buy cod
fish. If you can get them to stop buying it then I will have no choice
but to stop selling it.

That's a shame. In my opinion, it is much easier for you to stop selling cod and explain to your customers that you are taking a stand against overfishing, than it is for me to convince all of them to give up eating cod out of the kindness of their own hearts. Some of your customers might go elsewhere instead but Lindos is such a great store, and I'm sure fresh cod is not the main reason why most people go there.

Just because people want to buy cod, doesn't mean you must sell it. In fact, it is people like you who have the power to make big differences to Bermuda's ecological footprint. The reason why I am putting pressure on you regarding sustainable fisheries is because your store has already demonstrated its environmental friendliness in many other ways and if any store in Bermuda is likely to take a stand against unsustainable seafood like the cod fishery - it's Lindo's!

Well, at least you can't blame me for trying! ;-)

here is no conspiracy here with regard to local fish.

I never thought there was a conspiracy I just thought that maybe you needed to make a little more effort with obtaining local fish from fishermen.

I will buy it whenever I can and sell it whenever I can. We are more
than happy to sell local fish and in fact we prefer selling local fish
because when it is available we sell a lot of it!

Very glad to hear it!

I have spoken to
Patrick (the Butcher in Devonshire) and this week you should expect to
see plenty of wahoo and benita's. The Tuna and dolphin have not started
biting yet.

Really? I've seen local tuna being sold for at least a few weeks (from the guys at the Farmers' Market).

I will have to admit I am a little intimidated by you. When you mention
Greenpeace I think of bombs on boats and crazy guys in rubber rafts
attacking whaling vessels.

By bombs, I assume you referring to the the French bomb on the Rainbow Warrior (that killed a Greenpeace photographer) rather than any other kind of bomb. I hope you realise that Greenpeace have never bombed anyone or ATTACKED anyone or anything for that matter. They don't ram ships. You may be thinking of the more radical organisation "Sea Shepherd".

I'm sorry if I seem intimidating to you (I don't mean to be!!) but I've been meaning to do something about the shocking amount of unsustainable seafood being imported into Bermuda and the lack of sustainable options. You're my first target. If you don't change anything I doubt I will have much luck anywhere else!

Mr. Moniz! YOU ARE MY ONLY HOPE!

Regards
Lisa.