Malaysians urged to abstain from 21 seafoods

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP): Environmentalists urged Malaysians Tuesday to abstain from eating pomfret, ray, shark, lobster and other popular seafood species facing depletion in the country.
Malaysians' consumption of seafood is second biggest only to Japan in Asia with the average Malaysian eating 100 pounds (45 kilograms) per year based on 2007 statistics, said the World Wildlife Fund Malaysia.
Together with a local group, WWF called on consumers to avoid eating 21 seafood species and "think twice" before eating 13 others listed in its newly launched "Save our Seafood" guide.
WWF director Dionysius Sharma said Malaysia's sea bottom-dwelling stock, including lobster, coral trout and others, has declined by as much as 90 percent in certain fishing grounds between 1971 and 1997.
"We simply cannot afford to deplete our oceans of marine life," Sharma said in a speech at the guide's launch, adding it would jeopardize a key food source and decimate the fishing industry.
Among the seafood that Malaysians are urged to avoid are silver and black pomfret, ray, slipper lobster, mantis shrimp, shark and several groupers. Consumers have also been asked to reduce consumption of red snappers, sea cucumbers, flower crab and tiger prawn.
Seventeen more types of seafood, including oysters, green mussels and anchovies, have been given the green light, meaning they are not overexploited.
The list is based on a 21-month-long study undertaken by WWF, including surveying fish markets and documenting Malaysians' seafood eating habits.
http://www.wwf.org.my