Now is a crucial time for protecting our oceans. Global fish stocks are being overharvested at ecologically and economically indefensible levels and large-scale fisheries destroy sensitive ocean ecosystems, threaten climate stability, jeopardize global food security, and imperil marine wildlife.
OPS is excited to introduce Fish Free Friday in collaboration with Fish Free February and Good Catch Foods. Our Fish Free Friday campaign challenges people to help protect our oceans by removing seafood from their diet at least one day a week.
In this way, we can incrementally reduce our fish consumption while helping to raise awareness of the issues caused by intensive commercial fishing practices.
Over 90% of the world’s marine stocks are fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted. Hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic waste from discarded and lost fish gear enters the oceans each year, and as much as 40% of the world’s catch is bycatch of unwanted species, as well as endangered sharks, rays, marine mammals, and seabirds.
Destructive fishing methods, such as bottom trawling, also indiscriminately destroy delicate marine habitats including coral reef, seagrass, and seabed communities.
The Fish Free Friday campaign is challenging people to help protect our oceans by removing seafood from their diet every Friday. In collaboration with Fish Free February, we are helping to raise awareness of the issues caused by intensive fishing practices.
While we do not expect the millions of people who rely on seafood as a primary source of protein to stop eating fish and other seafood, we are looking to those who are in the privileged position to make consumer choices that include a transition to a more just, environmentally-friendly, and humane plant-rich diet.
What you can do!
Download our #FishFreeFriday social media toolkit. Please feel free to utilize any of the images, videos, or captions from our toolkit (below) to encourage others to join the movement.
Become a Fish Free Friday Influencer
Step 1. Sign the pledge to join the Fish Free February campaign and commit to not eating seafood in the month of February and helping to raise awareness of the impacts of industrial fisheries. Click here to sign the pledge.
Step 2. Film a 45 second clip to camera (can be shot on camera phone) following the template below depending on if you are a) going to try going Fish Free on Friday, in February, or Forever b) have already gone fish free in your day-to-day life.
- ‘Hi, my name is (insert name) and I’m a (insert profession). I’m going Fish Free this Friday/February/Forever because (insert personal reason why you’re taking up the challenge)
Or
- ‘Hi, my name is (insert name) and I’m a (insert profession). I have been fish free for (xx years/months) because (insert personal reason why you’re taking up the challenge)
Step 3. Send the video clip to [email protected] or [email protected] and we will edit it into the correct format for posting. If you have any clips of you in and around ocean that we can overlay onto the video please include them too.
Step 4. We will send the formatted version back to you and together we will decide on a date to launch your pledge video across yours and our social platforms.