Casson Trenor: Man on a Mission(Part 2)
Posted on | November 15, 2009 | 1 Comment
At this very moment, Casson is literally on a mission. He is sailing the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Greenpeace’s ocean-voyaging ship, the Esperanza, helping to expose and deter the use of unsustainable fishing tools called fish aggregating devices (FADs). More on that later. Following up on Casson Trenor: Man on a Mission (Part 1), this post contemplates where the sustainable seafood movement is going.
The movement is still in its infancy. SOP asked Casson to talk about indicators of progress we might see as it matures.
“Sustainable seafood is an environmental issue but really it’s a social issue.”
- Casson Trenor
To monitor progress he says we need to focus on social indicators, not environmental ones. We will see change in institutions (e.g., corporations and small businesses) that are the biggest part of the problem. In fact, some of the largest international corporations are now making huge changes in their seafood sourcing policies and the sustainable products they offer. Look out for future posts where SOP highlights some of these impressive steps forward.
Casson emphasized, at this stage of the movement, the changes we see at corporations and your local fishmonger result from consumer demand for sustainable seafood. As consumers, we need to educate ourselves to make informed decisions when buying seafood. “But at the end of the day, it shouldn’t have to be about the consumer choice,” Casson demands. Ultimately, he sees those people who depend on the ocean for work (regulators, fishermen, purveyors, activists, restaurants) as being responsible for stewarding the ocean for the rest us. In an ideal world, consumers won’t be able to make a bad decision when purchasing seafood.
Casson’s insights fit the sociological phenomenon described in Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. Once a critical mass of people demanding change (i.e., tipping point) is reached, it will be second nature for businesses to offer sustainable seafood. Fishermen, purveyors, grocery stores, and restaurants will maintain policies and practices that ensure the health of our oceans.
If you’d like to learn more about Casson’s current mission at sea or the use of FADs, check out his recent blog article, Skipjack, Seiners, and the Sea.
Tags: blog > Casson Trenor > fish > fishermen > fishery > ocean > restaurant > retailer > seafood > sustainable > The Tipping Point
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January 11th, 2010 @ 3:23 PM
[...] tuned for Part 2 of the story about Casson, where we contemplate the future of the movement. In the meantime, check out his blog, Sustainable [...]