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Gruesome stuff, and good info - thanks Richella

My goodness, tuna is what I was going to make for lunh, but I don't think I'll be able to eat any today.
I have a question, though : yesterday, while doing groceries at the supermarket, I bought tuna. While looking through all the tuna available, I remembered all the tuna overfishing posts I've read on this blog, so I thought I'd buy tuna that has been taken legally, without piracu and all that. I'll looked at ALL the different types of cans (and that was a lot), and I haven't been able to find any indication that would answer my concerns. So here is my question : how can I know the tuna I eat doesn't come from piracy? Is there really any way at all to prove it, or should I give up tuna completely? (that would be quite a problem, since tuna is one of the only things my college student budget can afford...).
By the way, in the end, I chose tuna that had been fished with a dolphin-protecting method. Whatever that means...

Hi Richella, ...and all,
...and whew, ...that was a bit hard to watch. ...and you know, I'll bet that hurts just a little bit. Even though I have for part of my life been an avid fisherman, I still can't get over the blindness and insensitivity, ...causing an innocent creature to suffer so. So glad I went veggie many years ago. Thanks too Richella for the great narration in the latest video blog, 'Plundering the Pacific' - http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/ocean-defenders-tv . Your timing and subject matter is impeccable to an article just published yesterday by the Independent UK - http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article1844243.ece . Just excellent Richella, ...you're the best this world could hope for.

Richella says
Hey Grateful child, thanks for your support. I've just read the article you recommended and it's spot on. These tuna commissions are basically toothless tigers. I think the survival of tuna is going to hinge a lot more on what we as consumers choose to eat and how accountable for our environment we hold the politicans we vote in. The more people who understand how messed up the situation is the better.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am not eating tuna ever again. Goodbye sushi! Great post though Richella, and an absolutely horrendous video.

Richella says
Thanks Adele. If you think the video's horrific it was worse being there. Alex (our photographer) had disturbing fishy nightmares the night after that footage was shot.

please extend your merritorious work to Nigeria in support of FISHCAREPLUS in the fight to change the way people fish in the wild. fish is depleting fast due to use of poisons and wrong fishing nets. Fish careplus is doing her best to educate but we know with a partnership with you GREENPEACE, the result shall be impressive. Here you can enjoy popular support

Samuel Moses

I'd also like to know more about tuna. I don't buy tuna in cans, but I do try to buy fresh tuna steaks. Eating fish, and thorugh doing so, including important fish oils (like the aforementioned Omega-3) is essential to my diet as I suffer from a medical condition. My doctors have advised that Omega-3 in capsule form is in no way, shape or means equivalent to or as effective as the natural source (i.e. eating fresh fish). So, what am I to do, how should I be guided and what is your suggestion?

This is in response to Pip's post about omega-3. Walnuts contain omega-3 fats. I'm not sure how the quantity compares to fish, but maybe you should ask your doctor if walnuts are a suitable alternative for you.

The thing I don't get is that on the mainland there are strick guidelines about how animals are to be killed for food... And 'most' of the time this is tightly monitored etc... But what about at sea? Are there guidelines as to how they are to kill these amazing creatures... I know it would be difficult to monitor but 'good' companies would comply... Just because these animals are fish doesn't mean they are anyless deserving to be treated humainly...

I went off Tuna a couple of months ago (it was the only fish I ate) because of reading about the over fishing etc... Now seeing this video and reading more information I am glad that I have stopped... Not only are they illegaly caught but terribly killed... (I'd rather see a fish thrashing around on deck suffocating than being alive and having it's brain poked out!)

I'm glad that you're out there Greenpeace bringing these terrible practises to our attention...

Hi there Pip...,
This is for you. An ancient plant, Flax seed is probably the most natural, and beneficial source for Omega-3. You can find many articles on the internet, such as this one - http://www.barleans.com/literature/flax/29-flaxseed-best-source.html . There are many other benefits from flax seed as well that may help your medical condition, ...especially if heart or stroke related. I hope this helps you, and be sure to get several opinions from credible sources before deciding what is best for you to do. Get well... GC

To Samuel Moses-

For Omega 3's, you can use flax oil, or flax oil capsules (I buy the non-gelatin capsules, they're made from a plant source). You could also use ground flax seeds, but that's less potent than the oil. Walnuts are also a good source like someone mentioned above. I have a friend with Lupus who must have Omega 3's in her diet, and she uses the flax oil.

Good luck to you!

Woops! I meant that i was replying to Pip's post about the Omega 3's. Sorry.

Dear Pip,

Thanks for your question. First of all, whereas fresh fish such as tuna does provide many good health benefits like lean protein and Omega-3, scientists are finding more and more that tuna often contains high levels of mercury. With that in mind, you should consider reducing your intake of tuna to balance maximizing the benefits it provides with minimizing exposure to this harmful element.
From a political standpoint, the U.S. government has been pretty good on the issues of pirate fishing and overfishing, having just passed legislation that makes solving these problems a global priority. (http://www.net.org/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=29131). Recently, the U.S. Coast Guard arrested a pirate vessel near the Howland/Baker Islands (a U.S. territory about 1700 miles southwest of Hawaii), which contained illegal fish valued at $350,000. And the world's largest protected marine reserve was recently established in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, when it was proclaimed a national monument back in June. Establishing a network of these protected marine reserves globally is essential to protecting the longterm health of our oceans.
What we need now is for the U.S. to take these efforts to the next step and apply them towards solving the problem in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) and other parts of the world. As a Distant Water Fishing Nation (DWFN) that has a fleet in the WCPO, they have a seat at the table in forums such as the Tuna Commission that regulate fishing in this region, as well as the resources to help with enforcement efforts. When the Coast Guard caught the pirate vessel near Howland/Baker it made use of a C-130 aircraft and two Coast Guard Cutter ships in making the arrest. The island nation of Kiribati by comparison, which controls fishing in an area of the ocean that's over three million square miles, has exactly ONE patrol boat for it's enforcement efforts. We need the U.S. to put it's money where it's mouth is, and help provide the resources these Pacific Island Countries need to stop illegal fishing.
So, although there's no foolproof way of ensuring the tuna you eat was caught legally and sustainably, I wouldn't go so far as to say give up tuna completely. And from your email and the advice of your doctor, that doesn't appear to be an option anyway. Again, I do suggest you take into consideration the high levels of mercury often found in tuna when determining how much you should eat. And if you want to take action, I suggest you call your congressional representative (if you're from the U.S) or write to President Bush (if you're not from the U.S.), and ask that the government put its money where its mouth is regarding fishing issues in places like the WCPO. Australia, New Zealand and France are also players in this arena who have taken good positions on these matters.
I hope this helps. Thanks again,

Bill Richardson
Deputy Executive Director
Greenpeace US

Please, please stop this...... Human do not have the right to make this horrified things.

PLEASE STOP THEM!!!!!!

oh man! can't take it.... that was really harsh! i love tuna's.. but is it the ryt way to do it? damn!

This is horror. Now I dont want to eat tuna anymore. What kind of people do this? I am really sad of this. Is this the "human" race?
Are we doing everything for money? My head is full of questions - why, why, why

ionolsen23 I am really impressed!

That video was disgusting! How could some one do such a thing! I was wondering if I could put that video onto my bebo page? Because then more people may see it and try to do something more about it.

That video was disgusting! How could some one do such a thing! I was wondering if I could put that video onto my bebo page? Because then more people may see it and try to do something more about it.

Richella says
Hi Helen, yes feel free to post the video onto your site. Just include a link back to the blog so people can get more info if they wish.

cheers

That video is horrible! I love tuna but watching that made me sick:-( I like eating fish too...but it seems that I dont want to eat anymore. I was so proud before that I see lots of tuna in can from the Philippines here in Shanghai, China and I was even promoting it to all my Chinese friend...now I need to tell them stop eating those tuna in can.

never thought i'd get upset over tuna, but i did, that is gruesome,
i only ever buy it for my cats , but no more.

I agree that this video is graphic, but I think the comments on this page, especially calling into question the human race, need to think with some perspective. I have full respect for anyone who is a vegan, but it is impossible to ignore the fact that people have been eating fish and meat throughout history. If your problem is with unsustainable fishing practices or fishing that leads to environmental degredation then I'm with you all the way. But don't make the death of a fish out to be the worst thing that has ever happened. How do you know that ant you trod on today wasn't writhing in pain for hours? There's worse things than this happening to human beings in the world right now, I hope you're being as vocal about those issues as you are about tuna.

i can't believe they're doing that for money .

now i won't eat tuna anymore . (even though i dont really eat that)

What a hell on earth for these creatures to be on to endure such cruelty! I will vow to never buy tuna again! I will write to my local supermarket concerning this, also.
Overpopulation of humans doesn't help.
I admire your bravery and courage!

Thanks for your work...I stopped buying and eating tuna a while ago. I'm concerned at the amount of salmon I now eat - how can I tell if this is farmed, in view of the fact that many fishmongers wrongly label fresh fish ( ling as barramundi, etc., etc. - and a lot of frozen fish from the Philippines are sold as fresh Australian varieties in Sydney. I imagine these are bottom netted, as there are so many fish coming in.) We are losing spry and prawns due to the drought going on here - no nutrients can be washed into estuaries if there is no rain - another pressing issue.
Is fish farming the answer?

Me parece super fuerte q hijos de puta tenemos q acer algo tenemos q actuar x k si no a saber asta donde llegaremos por un pobre animal

Thank you for sharing this. Having read your warning before watching the video put my senses on alert...they weren't wrong.
I like tuna, I sometimes eat it, I sometimes give it to my young children but I am not sure I'll be able to pick up a can or steak anymore. I have 2 cans inside my office drawer...I have already been tempted twice to open it and throw them into the bin.
I wonder why we have to do this in this way!
:-(

I had planned on having a tuna & sweetcorn sandwich for my lunch but after watching that video I am definately going to have something else.
The video was absolutely horrendous, I was very close to tears watching it. I will never be able to buy another tin of tuna as I will think of that video everytime.

Guys,
that is only the start.
Like a few of the posters here, I am a vegeterian and glad of it. The reasoning behind my choice to do so was not so much the slaughter of the animal, but the sheer scale of slaughter worldwide - I'll explain...

There are rougly 6.5 billion people in this world;
of which a 'very good' proportion eat meat;
and an animal (ranging from chicken to cow) can feed 15 people on average; every single day of the year, nearly 400 million animals must be slaughtered to keep up with demand...

400 million... every single day... and that is only to feed humans. Massive quantities of fish are processed into live stock feed and bearing in mind that meat used to grow meat has only 10% efficiency. Therefore, to grow 1,000 lbs of human, you need 10,000lbs of meat. To grow 10,000 lbs of meat, you need 100,000 lbs of feed.

The other fact of course, is that the world simply cannot sustain this level of production - there just aren't enough nutrients in the ground and fish in the sea!
Now, remember that the global population is set to increase to 9 billion within decades - what happens then?
Cut down more rainforest for farm land? Catch more fish from the already depleted open sea stocks...?

It is a bleak outlook my friends and regardless of those committing these crimes, you only have to look into your fridge/freezer/cupboard to see why it occurs - where there is demand, there is product.

I am reluctant to post the actual link to this video as it is incredibly graphic, but it shows operations of a typical cattle slaughter house. It is easy to eat meat when humans only need see it as a price-tagged package in your local supermarket.

If you found the tuna difficult to watch, please be weary...
cow slaughter.
I can understand if my post must be removed.

hi all,
ok i have something positive to mention! i agree with the reactions posted here. to do something about it, i included this video in my biology lesson. me as beginning teacher put a lot emotions in this lesson.
it was worthwhile! the kids WILL take action! so thats so good. i will give this workshop about 'save the oceans' many times.

remember: the youth is our future, my future depends on the youth that will take action

the netherlands,
amar

we would love to use your video on fishing, for a presentation on over fishing and fish farming at school. but we were disappointed to find that it was copy writted. would it be possible to let us use it for our class research. thankyou very much.

Hi Amar,

Thanks a lot for your post and your interest in the video. I work at Greenpeace International in Amsterdam as cameraman / producer and work mainly on our oceans campaign. I have filmed and edited this video and many others on Ocean Defenders TV.

I am very interested to distribute our video material to schools and you are very welcome to show this to the children in your class. Please send me your address by email and I will make a DVD for you with videos on our oceans campaign.

All the best,

Maarten
maarten.van.rouveroy@int.greenpeace.org

kill the fish
That's nice

Hi
I've been living in Malta for 4 years now and have personally seen how Tuna ranching not only depleats the already dwindling Blue fin tuna stock, but how the Tyrants that run these so called "farms" pollute the surround area.
Please people of this Wonderful Earth STOP EATING TUNA MEAT!!!!
We farm to support our species, but this is systematic annihilation.
The nets are infested parasites, and the sea bed below the net a mountain of decaying Mackerel.
We need to do something before it is all to late....

Turn vegetarians ppl

The best thing I ever did in my life was become a vegetarian at the age of 8. I have come to the stage that I can't watch these videos anymore I mhave seen enough cruelty to last a life time. The thing that I strongly feel is that animal cruelty and human cruelty go hand in hand. I have a work associate that worked in an animal experimentation lab years ago and what a stinking attitude he has to all animal life and I seriously question his viewpoint on human life. He is totally desensitised to suffering and cruelty.

Animal Cruelty and Human Cruelty surely are partners in crime!

Come on... Tuna don't exactly have the most complex nervous system, and a metal rod to the brain is about the quickest way to go out there is. Can you think of a better/faster/more humane way to kill a tuna? I can't, aside from a tuna-sized guillotine. Would you rather it asphyxiated on the deck instead? And all that post-mortem chop-up stuff doesn't matter anyway because it's already dead. As Billy Connolly once said, "just a row of teeth, an arsehole, and two fins."
Meat and fish have helped sustain human life for quite some time now, and that isn't changing.... well, until overpopulation, corporate overfishing, and general resource depletion knock us off.
Devour to survive, so it is, so it's always been.
As a race, us people have a hell of a lot more to worry about than how a stupid fish is killed.
I had a tuna melt for lunch yesterday and it was good. the mercury thing does concern me though.

I've been veggie for 21 yrs and watching that, thank goodness I am. I despair with what is going on, and then, to top it all, you see adverts for cod liver tablets and omega3 tablets with the big cartoon fish swimming along the screen happily as though it's only aim in life is to make a human feel healthier! I know this is not about the tuna, but what can we do? You have the likes of Greenpeace trying to bring to light the plight of our oceans and then you have these companies putting adverts like this on and undoing all your hard work with the public who's attention span is so scarily short. I feel so disheartened when you see the enormity of the task ahead without the luxury of time.

used to eat fis when i was little but i have gone off it now anyway is really yucky how they kill the tuna i guess that tyuna will always be killed for its meat but i wish they would try to find a kind of kind way to kill them and other fish and mammals thank you for the footage i will trying to prevent whaling

Tuna Tuna Tuna....I love Tuna

Guess what tuna eat? Other fish... chomping off their tails, then biting into their bodies, then finally eating them up. Much more gruesome than this video. Anyway, I think we need to do some serious work to protect fish stocks, but this video seems to just create noise which shifts focus from the real issues. There is neither a means nor a reason to stop the natural processes of predation upon which our ecosystem is based. The trouble is when we disrupt the balance by overfishing and polution.

yesterday i ate a tuna pasta.. now i feel bad. when i was watching that picture slide about the tuna.. i started crying.

yesterday i ate a tuna pasta.. now i feel bad. when i was watching that picture slide about the tuna.. i started crying.