5 good reasons to reduce fish consumption

1.  Fishing in the sea is harmful to the climate: 
   Industrial fishing fleets emit large amounts of greenhouse gases from their engines. Greenhouse gases are also produced by cooling and transporting the fish over long distances. Particularly problematic: if the seabed and seagrass meadows are whirled up by the nets, masses of CO2 are released. A study by American climate researchers shows that bottom trawling releases 1,5 gigatonnes of CO2 annually – more than global aviation emitted before the pandemic.
   
2. Many fish species are threatened with extinction: 
   According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 93 percent of the world's fish stocks are fished to their limits, and a third of them are even in "catastrophically bad condition," according to a broadcast by DIE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTATION.
   
   
3. Large amounts of plastic end up in the sea when fishing: 
   Fishing nets, lines, baskets and buoys that get lost and float in the sea account for around 10 percent of the plastic in the sea, according to Greenpeace.
   
   
4. Edible fish is often contaminated with heavy metals and microplastics: 
   DIE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTATION recommends: “A healthy diet is also possible without fish. 1 handful of nuts, 2 servings of fruit and 3 servings of vegetables daily, according to the season and in organic quality, are the basis. There is also linseed oil, hemp oil or walnut oil for salads and dressings.”
5. There is not enough Austrian fish as an alternative to sea fish: 
   The "Fish Dependence Day" in Austria is already at the end of January. In 2020, for example, it was on January 25th. Up until that day, Austria could theoretically supply itself with Austrian fish for consumption. According to this, fish consumption in Austria, which averages 7,3 kilos per person per year, is only possible through imports.

“Sea fishing is having a severe impact on fish stocks and the climate, and Austria can only supply 7 percent of its fish with local fish. That's why a balanced diet with little fish is the only ecological and healthy alternative," says Gabriele Homolka, nutritionist at DIE UMWELBERATUNG.

However, if you do want to eat fish from time to time, DIE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTATION recommends:

• Organic fish from Austria: In organic pond farming, the animals have more space and the use of hormones, insecticides and preventive treatment with antibiotics are prohibited. Carp do particularly well ecologically because they are herbivores and do not require animal feed. 
• Choose sea fish according to strict criteria: The seas are largely empty of fish. Depending on the fish species, region, fishing method or breeding conditions, the consumption of some fish species is less of a concern. the Fish test by Fair Fish International and the WWF fish guide support you in buying sea fish at the fish counter according to ecological criteria.

Sources of supply for local fish are listed by DIE UMWELTBERATUNG www.umweltberatung.at/heimischer-fischglück .

Image: © Gabriele Homolka THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTATION