An Unsustainable Bounty from the Blue: Cities to the Rescue?

Abstract

What (and how) we grow, harvest or extract from the ocean has significant implications for long term sustainability of this immense ecosystem. Our current industrial approach to seafood harvesting is clearly not sustainable and cities can and must take the lead in developing new approaches. Urbanites must begin to shift their consumer and political power behind more sustainable ideas and practices. Some of these new approaches are explored here, including support for smaller scale, locally based fishing (and new mechanisms such as Community Supported Fisheries [CSFs]), and a shift towards more sustainable and humane forms of shellfish aquaculture and ocean vegetable farming.