Ocean Conservancy Launches Fishery to Fork: An Online Roadmap Detailing the Journey Towards Sustainable Seafood

Starting in the Ocean and Ending on Dinner Plates, Numerous Steps Throughout the
Seafood Industry Offer Opportunities for Economic and Environmental
Responsibility
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Today, Ocean Conservancy launches a new online platform to track the major steps
in the progression of wild-caught seafood from the ocean to the consumer - from
fishery to fork. The site, www.oceanconservancy.org/fisherytofork, is designed
to highlight the roles and opportunities for fishery managers and policy makers,
fishermen, retailers and consumers and others to improve the sustainability of
our seafood throughout the industry. Ocean Conservancy has been working for
decades to improve the way we fish, working from fishery to fork we engage with
individuals, companies and decision makers to implement responsible management
plans that invest in the future of U.S. fishing.

"Fishery to Fork is the first comprehensive campaign bringing together all
sectors involved in producing and consuming seafood, from fishermen to
consumers, as an organized community in support of sustainability," said Mark
Powell vice president of sustainability projects/fisheries with Ocean
Conservancy. "By working together, we can renew America`s fisheries so that
every fish caught in America is a sustainable fish."

One of the success stories highlighted on Fishery to Fork is Gulf of Mexico red
snapper. Decades of overfishing pushed spawning population levels down to less
than 3% of natural abundance. In 2007 at the urging of fishermen, wholesalers,
environmental groups and seafood fans, fishery managers changed course voting to
implement the first science-based management plan to help rebuild red snapper.
The plan we have now will help keep fishermen on the water and coastal economies
working for the long run- the key is setting science-based catch levels and
working in partnership with the ocean. This success story was recently featured
on NBC Nightly News in their series: Sea Change, Our Oceans, Our Planet and Our
Future: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20862243/.

"Overfishing is one of the biggest threats to our ocean harming the ecosystem
and economies dependant on the fish resources. A healthy fishery is like a
healthy savings account; if managed well, you can live off the interest, but if
you overspend and dip into the principal, you are robbing yourself of future
earnings," said Chris Dorsett vice president of fishery conservation and
management with Ocean Conservancy. "Responsible, science-based fisheries
management can help rebuild our nation`s fisheries and rebuild economies. The
red snapper example in the Gulf of Mexico shows that we can change course and
rebuild our fisheries. Working from fishery to fork, we can implement
responsible management plans and invest in the future of U.S. fishing."

To visit Ocean Conservancy`s Fishery to Fork site:
www.oceanconservancy.org/fisherytofork.

Ocean Conservancy is the world's foremost advocate for the oceans.Through
science-based advocacy, research, and public education, we inform, inspire and
empower people to speak and act for the oceans.Ocean Conservancy is
headquartered in Washington, DC, and has offices in New England, Florida, the
Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific, with support from more than half a million
members and volunteers. To learn more about Ocean Conservancy visit
www.oceanconservancy.org.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5944017&lang=en

Ocean Conservancy
Tim McHugh, 202-351-0492
tmchugh@oceanconservancy.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009