Oceans Day June 8, 2007: WWF experts offer five reasons to have hope for healthy oceans

June 8th is World Oceans Day. Almost everyday in the news we hear of new problems with our oceans: fish stocks collapsing, oil pollution, mercury and other toxins building up in the food chain, acidification due to climate change, etc. Can anything be done? Yes!

Experts from WWF-Canada are available to talk about five hopeful signs, here in Canada and around the world, that we can turn the tide and rebuild our oceans.

Topics for discussion include:
· The global move towards “sustainable seafood”, and how what you buy can make a difference.
· What can be done to rebuild fish stocks, such as cod, on the Grand Banks?
· Get in the know! WWF-Canada presented MPs with a summer reading assignment on oceans – which is good reading for all Canadians.
· How protecting critical areas can often help rebuild collapsed stocks, and provide more, bigger fish for fishermen.
· How “Smart” fishing gear is helping to reduce the 30 million tonnes of fisheries “bycatch” wasted globally every year – fish, turtles and marine mammals that are thrown back over the side, dead.