Press Release 25th March, 2011
· The National Sea Life Centre Bray in association with the Irish Wildlife Trust are calling upon the new Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to play an active role in the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy by placing environmental sustainability as the top priority.
· Sea Life Centre and IWT launch a 'Choose Wisely' campaign to raise awareness of the depleting status of Irish fish stocks and promote sustainable consumerism practices.
· Conference and workshops take place (March 25th – 27th)
Decades of mismanagement and over-fishing have left the seas around 
Ireland and Europe almost devoid of some fish stocks. As much as 88% of Irish fish stocks are being fished unsustainably while 30% are 'outside safe biological limits' (threatened with extinction).
It is estimated that by 2050 all commercially exploitable fish species will have been over-fished, depriving us not only of familiar dinner plate specials but destroying livelihoods, communities and a part of our cultural heritage.
Running over 3 days, 'The Choose Wisely' Sustainable Fishing launch will include educational workshops, seminars, interactive guided tours, film screenings and activities to raise awareness of the detrimental effects of overfishing and give useful information on sustainable consumerism skills.
Pat O'Suillebhain, managing director of the Sea Life Centre in Bray, commented: "Fish forms an essential part of our marine ecological system and a stable component in our local diet, while fishing constitutes an important part of our cultural heritage.
"With the commercialising of this sector and habitat destruction, we have started witnessing an alarming decline in our fish stock," Pat continued.
In order to sustain this resource, decisions need to be made today to reverse the path to destruction and ensure a sustainable fishing resource for generations to come.
Padraic Fogarty IWT Chairman "The Irish sea in particular is in a state of ecological collapse and to date nothing has been done about it, we have to bear in mind that without fish there will be no fishing and none of the economic benefits that fishing can bring"
To spread the word relating to this important ecological issue, Sea Life has also set up a Facebook discussion board that can be accessed on its SeaLife Facebook page, www.facebook/sealife -
ENDS
For further information or interview opportunities contact
Emma or Ruairi at the Keogh Partnership – 01-6792029 or 0862339760, hello@thekeoghpartnership.ie
Or
Padraic Fogary IWT Chairman 0872959811
