Sample letter

Copy and paste any or all parts of this letter to tell a supermarket, restaurant, or other outlet to stop serving marlin or sailfish.  Items you'll have to change are underlined.

DATE

Dear __________________:

It has come to my attention that NAME OF SUPERMARKET/RESTAURANT is selling marlin or sailfish to the public.  You may not be aware that worldwide marlin and sailfish stocks are in poor shape.  In the Atlantic things are so bad that it is illegal to sell marlin or sailfish taken from the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean.  In order to protect these species from over-exploitation this law went into effect more than a dozen years ago.  Dealers must have proof that any marlin or sailfish in their possession did not come from waters where their commercial harvest is prohibited.  Unfortunately, proof of authenticity is not monitored by any governmental agency and this results in the illegal importation and sale of billfish caught in the Atlantic Ocean.

There are over 9 million salt water anglers in this country that have a cumulative economic impact of over $1.8 billion annually.  Most of these anglers object to billfish such as marlin and sailfish being killed and sold for food.  The vast majority of marlin and sailfish caught by recreational anglers are released making it a reusable resource that fuels a substantial economy. In contrast, the economic impact of the commercial billfish trade in the US is only $23 million annually, or .07% of the entire US commercial seafood industry. 

Want another reason not sell marlin or sailfish?  They are known to accumulate harmful levels of mercury.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency health guidelines for fish consumption indicate that any fish with a mercury level greater than 1.5 parts per million (ppm) should not be consumed in any amount.  Marlin, especially large specimens, have been found to have mercury levels as high as 15 ppm.

So, what can we really say about the commercial billfish market?  How about: “Stocks are in bad shape and it does little for the economy, but at least eating them is bad for you!”  It just doesn’t make sense, does it?

I respectfully ask you to reconsider your policy of selling marlin.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME