I love to eat fish. If there is a healthy, viable population of a species, I am very comfortable in keeping a fish or two to eat. I have no problems at all catching and keeping stocked trout to eat. I'll only keep what I'll eat that day. I won't freez
e them. Native, or self populating trout are a different story though. I try to be very careful in fishing for them. As a younger person, I put a serious dent in a local trout population by over fishing it, and it made a profound impression on me.
When fishing for stripers in Maine, I'll often keep a slot fish. They are great eating. But I won't keep another big striper. The genetic information they contain is too valuable in my opinion. We are a supply and demand society. I won't buy swordfish
, shark, native salmon or other fish whose population I feel is in jepordy as my way of showing my concern for their populations.
Will my refusal to buy certain fish help that population? I think it will,especially if I share the plight of some of these species with friends. If people won't buy something, it won't be offered for sale. I know this is fairly simplistic, but I belie
ve it has an impact.
Dave Williams