While the Arctic Sunrise chases trawlers fishing destructively in the North Sea, a large campaign team is challenging exhibitors at the Brussels Seafood Fair with one message – "Is Your Seafood Sustainable?" And after two days we've saturated the venue with this message, creating the 'buzz' we were hoping for, it really is the word everyone is using right now! This, despite a somewhat over-reactive clampdown by the local police on activists displaying banners and leafleting outside the venue. So much for freedom of speech in the European capital…
For sale in Brussels - the contents of the world's oceans
Over 1600 companies from more than 80 different countries display their products at this Fair, now the world’s largest Seafood Expo – and it really is quite overwhelming! This is where ocean destruction is being brokered, where lucrative trade and supply deals are being celebrated with champagne and shellfish delicacies and where nearly everyone claims to be doing the right thing – despite iron-clad evidence to the contrary.
Campaigners inside have spend the last two days talking to some the worst perpetrators of ocean destruction from around the world – fisheries, buyers, sellers, processors, the fishing industry is a true demonstration of globalization – it knows no boundaries - as well as those promoting better practices – although it has to be said – these are few and far between – we still have a long way to go!
