Η Μεσόγειος δεν προσφέρει μόνο ήλιο, πανέμορφες παραλίες και κρυστάλλινα νερά… αλλά και υπέροχο φαγητό. Είναι εύκολο να επιλέξεις “ψαρικά με μέλλον”: απόφυγε το γόνο και υιοθέτησε μια δίαιτα με ποικιλία.

Μην αγοράζεις γόνο, γιατί είναι ο αυριανός γονιός. Οι δικές σου επιλογές μπορούν να βοηθήσουν ώστε η «νεολαία» της‪#‎myBlueMed‬ να αυξάνεται και να πληθαίνει…

Many think that the overall landscape, with its verdant variety, the wide range of beaches and the fine green-blue mosaic of waters are the main gems of the Mediterranean Sea.

Others, though, know that the most cherished wealth of #MyBlueMed actually hides in its depths.

Oh, we don’t mean coins and jewellery that divers may find in sunken wrecks: life itself is the treasure trove! This sea is home to an incredible variety of fish and crustaceans: you can literally find hundreds of types of tuna, anchovies, sardines, hake, squid, clams and lobsters roaming free in the deep.

This means that the Med is also an amazingly rich source of food: just think that its 500 million people consume about 10 million tons of seafood every year (almost 20 kg per person!). And it is a totally local fresh market – except for some species like tuna and small pelagic fish that can be exported worldwide.

With some 80,000 fishing boats run by 250,000 fishermen in 20 countries bordering the sea, fishing is indeed no small affair. A good 80% of these boats are artisanal and carry various kinds of equipment to catch different species on the same fishing trip.

Did you know that fish is the most traded food commodity worldwide?

Sadly 95% of the Mediterranean stocks assessed are overfished, putting marine ecosystems as well as the livelihoods of fishers and the Med countries’ economies in general at risk. Keeping a watchful eye on illegal fishing, banning dangerous fishing methods and investing in Marine Protected Areas are certainly all important ways to assure food supplies for everyone, for decades to come. Especially since only about 1% of the Mediterranean is under protection at present.

Sigh of relief: this does not mean that eating fish is bad in itself!

We just have to ensure that all these varieties of fish will still be with us in the near and distant future. You see, sometimes without realizing it, we buy fish that has been caught too young, before it has had a chance to reproduce. This has repercussions not only on local fisheries but also on those further afield, often in developing countries. Improving our fishing practices can open the doors to sustainability fishing certification such as the famous MSC, which WWF rates as a top performer.

Besides, if we increase our consumption of sustainable fish we will certainly promote a positive impact not just on the species, the environment and on the livelihood of millions of people, but also on our own health, as we then experience a more varied diet and reduce the accidental ingestion of possible contaminants.

So next time you go to a supermarket or restaurant, make sure you have with you a list of sustainable seafood options, such as the ones developed by WWF.

Now you can enjoy eating fish … knowing that you are a part of the solution too!

Μάθετε περισσότερα στο: www.mybluemed.org