Report: Eating Fish is Bad for the Environment
This is a writing sample from Scripted writer Christine Mattice
A new report is pitting environmentalists against dietitians. The report, published today, says that we are depleting the fish population for dietary guidelines that are…well…a bit "fishy." The benefits of eating fish have long been known. Fish is a low fat source of protein It is also abundant in Omega 3 fatty acids, which has been proven to lower heart disease risks, as well as provide other health benefits. Or so "they" say. A team of Canadian scientists is saying something totally different and stirring up controversy. Their report, titled, 'Are dietary recommendations for the use of fish oils sustainable?' states that, though the evidence for the benefits of fish are not conclusive, the fish population is being decimated. This could have grave environmental consequences. Authors of the study, Dr. David Jenkins of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and Ussif Rashid Sumaila, acting director of the fisheries centre at UBC , analyzed the current dietary guidelines for the requirement of eating at least 2 servings of fish per day. Though they concede that there is some evidence to support the "heart healthy" benefits of eating fish, they say that there is also evidence that fish eaters lead healthier lives. This area has not been adequately explored, say the authors. In the meantime, the required daily servings of fish are being depleted. "The public has the impression," Sumaila told CBC News, "that there are plenty of fish in the sea—but that's not the case." According to The Globe and Mail: Dr. Jenkins said a way to settle the question of nutritional benefits would be to conduct studies to see "whether just going for a walk and eating less saturated fat" would lead to the same health improvements as eating fish. The researchers hope that people take their report seriously and cut down on eating fish. Sumaila worries that, if the consumption of fish continues at this rate, wild fish could face extinction. The report is published in today's Canadian Medical Association Journal.
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