Measuring Fish Oil Supplements’ Impact on the Environment - By Lynn Ellen Schimoler, Grocery & Wellness Manager

Lately there has been increased discussion about fish oils and the ecological impact. Recently, I stayed up late to catch the VPT broadcast of ‘End of the Line’ – directed by Rupert Murray (former oyster shucker at a London restaurant). Narrated by Ted Danson, this film illustrates how demand for cod off the coast of Newfoundland in the early 1990s led to the decimation of the most abundant cod population in the world, and how with the advent of technology, fishing vessels leave virtually no escape route for the several population of fish that get caught in the quest for us to consume tuna, salmon, or the popular Chilean sea bass. The film pleads for the consumer to take responsibility in our choices when we buy fish, arguing that politicians play an enormous role if they choose to ignore the sound counsel of scientists and research groups who devote an entire lifetime to protect the oceans. There is also a general shaming of fisherman that break quotas by fishing illegally – and there are actually former members of the fishing industry interviewed in the film who are now activists and watchdogs for impropriety. With all of these factors stacked up, one takes away a sense of an impending doom on fish species. My initial reaction was to return to my vegetarian roots, but after watching the film I realized that there are some simple practices and choices that we all can make to help alleviate this global crisis.

Are fish oil supplements 'eco-friendly'?
In a December Op-Ed piece in the New York Times, Paul Greenburg waxed philosophical about the endangered menhaden and the vast majority of fish oil supplements that are derived from this type of herring. While I share my dismay with Greenburg about the ramifications in general on food-chain, there are some differing opinions and responses to his thoughts. The Environmental Defense Fund points out on their website that “Consuming fish oil supplements to obtain omega-3s is clearly ecologically preferable to eating fish that Environmental Defense rates as a Worst Choice (view their Eco Best and Worst list). Some of our Worst Choice fish, such as farmed Atlantic salmon, are fed large amounts of fishmeal and oil.

Overall, fish oil supplements are an acceptable choice for ecologically concerned consumers. Ideally consumers should be able to choose supplements derived only from truly well-managed fisheries.” In a statement that we received from Vitamer Labs – the makers of City Market Brand vitamins: “The fish oil used in our Omega-3 products (Concentrated Omega-3, EPA & DHA, and Ultimate Omega Complex™) comes from anchovies and sardines off the coastal waters of Chile and Peru. Because there is an abundance of these fish species in this region, over-fishing is not a concern. However, cod and tuna from the Atlantic (but not South America) are at risk for over-fishing. Sardines and other small fish species typically comprise the bulk of the fish oil used in our soft gels and are not at risk for over-fishing.” Some comfort and manufacturers should be able to provide consumers with information about their practices. See us in the Wellness dept. to get websites of some from some of the vitamin companies we stock for more information.

It is still hard to evaluate the ecological harm of fish oil supplements, since there a wide variety of fish species that get processed for fish oil. In general, fish oil for supplements comes primarily from reduction fisheries in Peru and Chile and, to a lesser extent U.S., Africa or Europe. These fisheries catch fish for processing fishmeal and fish oil, which is used mostly in animal feed (more food chain impact). Most fish caught for this kind of reduction are small species such as anchovies, sardines, mackerel and yes, menhaden. However reproduction rates of these fish is fast making them somewhat resilient to overfishing. In addition, it has been pointed out that the type of fishing gear used to catch many of these fish actually does comparatively little harm to other sea life and marine habitat. Nevertheless, no one can make a blanket statement claiming that any sort of mass fishing is ecologically sound. We all understand that populations of these small fish are important to marine ecosystems: marine predators like seabirds or other larger fish all rely on these fish for food. There is an ultimate price being paid in terms of impact on overall food chain. Sharks prey on tuna, which prey on mackerel, which prey on small fish, which eat tiny shrimplike creatures, and so on.

Remember that you can get similar Omega -3 from plants (for example, flaxseed oil, milled flax, flax seeds) although these terrestrial sources lack the beneficial longer chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) of fish oil. In addition to flaxseed, there are walnuts, kale, spinach, algae, salba, hempseed oil, pumpkin and soy as other sources of Omega-3. Our Meat and Seafood dept. updates on a frequent basis which fish a consumer can choose based on mercury or PCB amounts, in addition to information about harvesting. Ask Jamie Lewis, the Meat and Seafood manager for more questions. Taking the responsibility to be an informed consumer can help you to make small, wise decisions that although may feel like a drop in the ocean – eventually can have long term positive impact on our marine friends.

My big fear is that it may be too late, I have a very graphic image in my mind. It is of the migration of so many buffalo in the American West in the early 19th century. It was the same with bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean, a migration of a massive number of animals. And now we are witnessing the same phenomenon happening to giant bluefin tuna that we saw happen with America's buffalo. We are witnessing this, right now, right before our eyes."
- Sergi Tudela, a Spanish marine biologist with the World Wildlife Fund

No more magnificent fish swims the world's oceans than the giant bluefin tuna, which can grow to 12 feet (3.7 meters) in length, weigh 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms), and live for 30 years. Once, giant bluefin migrated by the millions throughout the Atlantic Basin and the Mediterranean Sea, their flesh so important to the people of the ancient world that they painted the tuna's likeness on cave walls and minted its image on coins.
 - National Geographic