Seaweed Art

Most moms know that fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet, because they contain high-quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children’s proper growth and development. The American Heart Association recommends two to three servings (2-3 ounces) of fish a week for children as an early prevention of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, pregnant women and young children should include fish or shellfish in their diets, due to the many nutritional benefits.

However, one must exercise discretion and caution when choosing seafood that is safe to eat. Some seafood species can contain trace amounts of a variety of different chemicals. Mercury and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are two commonly studied seafood contaminants that are believed to be particularly harmful for pregnant or nursing women and children. Studies indicate that early exposure to these harmful toxins can lead to serious adverse health effects.

To read more about SeaWeb’s KidSafe Seafood program that offers guidelines on safe and sustainable seafood click here.

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Whenever I collect seaweed for my artwork, I always adhere to sustainable harvesting practices which limit the amount and kind of seaweed I am allowed to take. Seagrasses are often off limits because they are a vital part of our ecosystem, providing homes and food for many marine animals and sea birds. Seagrasses are unfortunately turning up on many endangered lists.

A recent report by an international team of researchers completed the first ever review of the world’s seagrass species, classifying the risk of extinction for each respective species under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Twenty one seagrass experts reviewed 72 different varieties and species of seagrass and found that one in five seagrass species is now threatened (endangered or vulnerable) or near threatened.

Human impact, such as shoreline construction, land reclamation and other coastal activities are the biggest threat to seagrass survival. Declines in water quality and clarity from nutrient and sediment loading are also major factors.

The creation of marine protected areas and the removal of threats facing seagrasses are the greatest hope in protecting them and insuring their survival.

Please visit SeaWeb’s Science in the Spotlight to learn more about endangered seagrasses and what you can do to help avert this urgent problem.

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A Gift from the sea: Creating Art from Seaweed

SeaWeb, who happens to be this month’s SeaweedArt featured ocean advocate, has interviewed me as one of their featured ocean advocates in their Ocean Voices series. You can read the interview here here .

For the month of May, 10% of the profits from the sale of SeaweedArt greeting cards and prints will be donated to Seaweb. You may also make individual contributions by donating directly to SeaWeb here.

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Here is a creative and imaginative interpretation of what you can find when you spend a day at the beach. It’s not just seashells and sand crabs. You guessed it. LOTS of trash, junk and plastic. The best way to end the glut of plastic junk that ends up in our oceans and landfills is to stop using it in the first place. To source biodegradeable alternative plastic products, please visit Letsgogreen.biz. And if you are so inclined, snap photos of your “creative” beach trash and post on the Litter Baggers Facebook page.

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Starting on Earth Day and continuing through the end of May, SeaweedArt will donate 10% of their profits of their SeaweedArt cards and prints to SeaWeb, the only international, nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to strategically communicating about ocean issues.

SeaWeb transforms knowledge into action by shining a spotlight on workable, science-based solutions to the most serious threats facing the ocean, such as climate change, pollution and depletion of marine life. They work collaboratively with targeted sectors to encourage market solutions, policies and behaviors that result in a healthy, thriving ocean. By informing and empowering diverse ocean voices and conservation champions, SeaWeb is creating a culture of ocean conservation.

Please tune in daily for updates and more information on how you can support a healthy earth and ocean. In addition to purchasing from SeaweedArt you may also donate directly to SeaWeb.

The video posted below is an  interview filmed for SeaWeb’s Ocean Voices series featuring environmental film maker, Chris Palmer, who explains his dedication to ocean conservation through filmmaking. It includes breathtaking still images and film footage from the Marine Photobank and Lost Nomad Media.

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This is video, although a spoof, is not that far from the truth.

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Whole Foods Market announced last week that they will stop selling fish caught from depleted waters or through ecologically damaging methods, a move that comes as supermarkets nationwide try to make their seafood selections more sustainable.

Starting Earth Day, April 22, the natural and organic supermarket chain will no longer carry wild-caught seafood that is “red-rated,” a color code that indicates it is either overfished or caught in a way that harms other species. The ratings are determined by the Blue Ocean Institute, an advocacy group, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California.

Sounds like great news to us ocean lovers, doesn’t it? Well, apparently the initial media reports were inaccurate. I have since come to learn the following facts:

• Whole Foods are discontinuing the sale of wild caught, red-ranked seafood.
• This does not make them 100% sustainable, as their farmed seafood (despite having their own ‘aquaculture standard‘ and ecolabel) can still be red-ranked, like net-pen farmed salmon. See this link for info on the issues associated with salmon farming.
• New Leaf, a local Bay Area grocery store, stopped selling all red-ranked seafood (wild and farmed) years ago.
• The media coverage is misleading, as everyone now thinks everything they sell is sustainable, which is certainly not the case.

Overall, it’s a great step in the right direction, but it is disappointing that Whole Foods has spun the story to make them look like the best in the industry. They still have a long way to go to achieve that medal (it will be interesting to see where they fall out on the Greenpeace Retailer Scorecard that will be updated next month!) So the lesson here is “consumer beware.” Educate yourself on what is safe to eat. Learn the best questions to ask when shopping for seafood and dining out. Download your very own pocket sized sustainable seafood guide click here.

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Last week my husband I stayed with some friends in their beautiful home overlooking Bodega Bay. Aside from enjoying their gracious hospitality and the spectacular scenic views from their living room, I got the added bonus of accompanying them while we checked on the health of a beached elephant seal. Our friends are active volunteers with the Marine Mammal Center and they often receive rescue calls to tend to sick or injured marine mammals. It was an amazing experience. Since these animals are federally protected you cannot get too close, but I could see this gorgeous creature from a distance and was grateful to be a part of a mission devoted to saving all marine mammals. If you would like to learn more about the Marine Mammal Center please visit: Marinemammalcenter.org.

For those of you who were wondering, the seal was fine. He was just molting.

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March is member appreciation month at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Current members receive double discount (20%) in the Ocean Discovery Shop all month. New members receive an additional 25%-off-coupon for any one item* in the shop as well as all member benefits. Bring your family and friends for an ocean shopping spree. The shop carries an exciting assortment of gifts, books, games, and so much more that will capture the imagination of ocean lovers of all ages.

Come visit a working marine laboratory. Enjoy the exhibit halls, aquarium, and touch tanks. Take tours to the marine mammal research overlook, and experience unsurpassed vistas of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Hold a sea star — marvel at the world’s largest whale skeleton — touch a shark— think like a scientist! Members free EVERYDAY!

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This is for all of you ocean lovers out there. When I found this video on YouTube, one commenter surpised me when he wrote that he thought the creators of this video were preaching to the already converted, and therefore the ad had no impact to effect change. I disagree. I think it is a very powerful and uplifting ad that is a refreshing change from the littered strewn beaches and plastic bottle clogged oceans we usually see in PSA’s urging action to clean up the ocean. The Seaweb Super Bowl ad reflects the majesty of the ocean and inspires a desire to make sure we keep it that way. And you gotta love the music.

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