Lions, Tigers and Bear Sashimi? Oh my!

Jun 08 2009

Mmmm…bears, cute and delicious! What? You’ve never sampled bear? Well, what about a spotted owl or Vancouver marmot. No? Well you really must!

Or not.

The thought of eating endangered species may seem absurd, however the consumption of certain varieties of fish have been linked to the at-risk status of species such as bears, eagles and whales (link http://www.raincoast.org/2008/11/26/silent-fall/#more-1045). So although we’re not munching on Bear McNuggets, by making unsustainable food choices, we may be contributing some of BC’s most beloved species’ uncertain futures.

Recently, the sustainability of sushi has become a growing concern; restaurants that continue to serve fish that are not responsibly and sustainably harvested are facing harsh criticism. A popular restaurant which serves bluefin tuna, a popular overharvested fish, was recently visited by members of Greenpeace link (http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/greenpeace-takes-on-nobu/?ref=nyregion). The group came equipped with imitation menus with dishes inspired by endangered species such as “Mountain Gorilla Seasoned with Powdered Rhino Horn” to illustrate the point that serving this overharvested fish is equivalent to eating an endangered species.

Okay, lesson learned, don’t eat bluefin tuna because it is overharvested. I will just eat farmed salmon, they aren’t at-risk. Where is the soy sauce?

Not so fast...

Inspired by this article? Share it with others.

Your Comments

Your thoughts and opinions are welcome. Be the first to comment on this article.

Snowy Owl Show in Vancouver

Feb 28. 12

I don’t really recommend Vancouver as a winter destination. As a matter of fact, most people I know try to escape our colourless, rainy, cold winters and migrate towards the warmer climates of Mexico or Hawaii. However this year is different. Special visitors from the North flew thousands of miles to spend the winter with us. In November, snowy owls left their arctic home to travel all the way to Boundary Bay, to the delight of all photographers and birdwatchers from the Lower Mainland and beyond.

Comments 0 Keep Reading...

Where have all the barn swallows gone?

Feb 01. 12

In the last 20 years, the once-common barn swallow has declined by 70 percent. Watch our latest video to learn more about this amazing tiny bird and what we can do to protect it.