This entry was posted on Thursday, August 13th, 2009 at 10:14 pm and is filed under Food Storage. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
A recent news report is a cause of concern for the food industry.
OTTAWA (AFP) – Millions of sockeye salmon expected to reach the Fraser River on Canada’s Pacific Coast this month have vanished, devastating the local fishery, officials said Thursday.
According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, between six to 10 million sockeye were projected to return to the river this month.
But the official count is now just 600,000 for the “summer run” — by far the largest of four salmon groupings that return to area lakes and rivers each year from June to late August.
Where the other fish went remains a mystery.
The daily Globe and Mail cited fishermen who said the situation was “shocking,” a “catastrophe” and a “crisis,” while public broadcaster CBC said this could end up being the worst year ever for the Pacific salmon fishery.
It’s another reminder that the food we sometimes take for granted comes with no guarantees. What is plentiful one year could be a scarcity the next. This, of course, is not limited to fish. Drought or disease could decimate crops and livestock.
Mad cow disease in Britain a few years back resulted in mass slaughters of entire herds. Avian flu resulted in similar severe culling of chicken flocks in many nations. The Australian drought has had a horrible impact upon flocks of sheep and fields of grain. Floods can prevent harvests and drown crops. Early frosts can severely limit the availability of all sorts of fruits and vegetables.
Once again, it should seem obvious that there can be big advantages to establishing our own food storage programs. Extra food in the freezer, on the pantry shelf, or in the cupboard could be of real value to us one day — as we try to cope with those unexpected shortages.