Due to irresponsible and reckless over-harvesting in the past, most species of edible seafood have become scarce in the marketplace. What was once an abundant supply of Haddock, Groupie, Bonito and other deep sea varieties are now scarce. But, there is always an adequate and affordable supply of Salmon, Shrimp and Flounder. These are species which can be accommodated to our profit oriented system.

Species which can be commercially farmed in estuaries or fish farms on shore are abundant. Money is invested only in those activities which return a profit to the owner. Under our present system, those who sow must also harvest, nothing else is possible.

Yet, the future demands that we solve our problems on a Global basis, not on the basis of economic returns. We must set up projects where the benefit is not economic return, but rather the solution to our Earth's urgent problems. None of which is more important to solve than how to feed the Millions of Hungry men, women and children.

An important step in this direction would be to set up floating fish hatcheries, where fish are grown from eggs to a viable maturity, to be released to the Oceans. Other fishermen would harvest them years later at full maturity, recycling the eggs back to the floating farms. I am not a fish farmer, but I believe it would be feasible to lay out large nets to hold the fry and to keep out predators. In time, with genetic selection and improvements in the diet of the hatchlings, Marine species would again return to be a viable and inexpensive source of protein for the World.

These floating fish farms should be financed at first by the UN, with contributions from member countries according to their Global harvest. No attempt should be made to collect funds from Third World fishermen, but those of the developed World should participate in a monetary refund to the UN Fisheries.

We must bring about a World not dominated by the so called bottom line but rather one where finances are at the service of Humanity, not the other way around. Let's all unite into a network of creativity where diverse ideas well up and drive the body politic. In today's democracy, politics are reactive, not proactive. Now We must ALL lead the way.

Atlanta, GA
February 13.1996

Followup:

The Economist  A new way to feed the World