My stance on seafood: updated

[Princess Kae-Leah]

I think one thing I've been very subtly changing my views on is seafood and fishing. By subtle, I mean I'm not quite as hard-line about it as I used to. I used to be very "my way or the highway" about my view that the key to saving the oceans is to give up all seafood. Now my view is that not eating seafood may not be a realistic and practical option for everybody, and I recognize the economic importance of the commercial fishing industry to many regions around the world, but with that said, I think, at the very least, giving up seafood or at least cutting back on it is an option to be considered and discussed. I don't really mind much now if people say "sorry, I love seafood too much to give up!", but I still feel that my stance is one that is ignored by most environmental organizations. I wish that causes like SeaChoice would point out to people that one choice people can make is not eating it at all any more, no matter how sustainable. Ever since I started my own mer-page, I've been trying very hard to be fair and respectful of others' opinions as well as not turn a blind eye to the realities that keep my opinion from being a very popular one.
In a clamshell(hehe!), I'd like to ask you guys, whether you personally eat seafood or not(I won't judge you either way, I've promise! :)), if you think that abstinence from or even serious reduction of seafood consumption is an option that has a right to be adknowledged more by environmental organizations, especially with the "disclaimer" that it may not be easy or practical for everybody/isn't the only option, and of course if everybody went "Terrestetarian" over night, highly unlikely, that may be, it would very bad for the economy.
I know Raina and I have discussed this back forth a lot, and I feel like a broken record player with a tail(hehe ;)) since I've posted about this topic and my slowly evolving stance on it quite a lot on my mer FB, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on whether or not even listing abstinence from seafood as one possible option of many to stop overfishing is some how disrespectful to those who depend on the fishing industry survive.

[Spindrift]

I don't eat any shellfish, squid, crab, lobster, or octopus. I do on occasion eat seaweed, shrimp, fish, and eel.

[Spindrift]

As for your other question: I think listing it as an option is still reasonable. There will always be people who eat seafood but don't really care for it and so won't mind giving it up. As for the economic reasons/fishing industries, that's much more complicated. I feel that if there are enough people that don't eat seafood, that industry can evolve and adapt to be able to still profit from those that do and remain healthy. Another thing is to consider is that markets evolve all the time. Eventually people will realize that that kind of change is inevitable. I'm not quite sure how, since I only have a broad understanding of how economics works, but I wouldn't mind doing research on this subject. Cool question, Princess Kae-Leah!

[Princess Kae-Leah]

Thanks so much for your response, Spindrift! I think with the recession still going on, governments and lobbying groups are pretty unwilling to make any sacrifices that woule effect the economy in any way right now, even if it's for the greater good. Look at how the plastics industry has reacted to the bad rap single-use plastic bags have rightfully gotten! Someone has suggested to me that large-scale commercial fishing halt temporarily for a decade or so, with the hopes that it would make the fish stocks grow in the future and thus help the fishing industry eventually, which I think is an excellent idea for the sake of the oceans, but I seriously doubt that would happen any time soon.

[Mermaid Jewel]

I understand the view and I hate the overfishing of seafood but I still eat it. Not as much (I don't generally eat much meat unless my body needs it, which as a dancer is still a lot) but I do eat it. It's hard to give it up right now, and I do love it (I love sushi :D ) but I'll take into consideration not eating as much.

Just a note on how my eating habits are affected, a few years ago I tried switching to partially vegetarian (picking days of the week to be or not be vegetarian) but I wasn't taking in enough protein (I don't eat much as it is) to sustain my dancing habits. I had to quit doing it so I could have enough energy to dance and not feel sick. It's kinda the same way with any major dietary changes I try to make.

I applaud you for sticking to your views and being strong enough to do this though :) <3

[Mermaid Photine]

I don't eat any seafood other than shrimp toast from chinese takeout (I canot resist it!). I haven't really tried seafood that much since I declared I did not like it when I was little, but my family doesn't buy much of anyhting in the way of seafood to begin with. xD

I think that it would be a good idea to find uses for the invasive species of fish and other water animals. I hear lots about the flying carp problem on the Ohio River, and I think that if it could be made into a temporary source of food for resteraunts, Mcdonalds' mystery fish fillets, etc, then maybe the problem could be lessened. Once the invasive species is gone, people could go back to the normal things they use for food. I really have no idea how this would be implemented, though.

[Princess Kae-Leah]

Interesting idea, Pandorah! Invasive species is indeed as serious problem, as they disrupt the natural food chain and balance. One of the reasons I have the stance I do is, in fact, I feel like overfishing has unbalanced aquatic ecosystems as well, and while some progress has been made toward sustainability in some places, I worry that it may be too little, too late. We're catching so many fish that some marine animals are starving, and unlike most humans, they don't have a choice but to eat fish to survive.

[Princess Kae-Leah]

I've been skimming the "economy of" articles for various countries on Wikipedia, and so far, I haven't really found a country that depended on the fishing and seafood processing industries so much that it'd be like the end of the world for the whole nation if everyone stopped eating seafood, and certainly not if the average person simply reduced their individual intake, or if more but by no means all people stopped eating it.

[Spindrift]

Countries as a whole may not depend on fishing completely, but many villages do. I would think that it would be difficult to suddenly tell a group of 800 or so people who have lived in the same area for generations that they suddenly have to be displaced because no one wants fish anymore. In this example I'm thinking of the fishing villages in Thailand and Cambodia, where the people are very poor. I've traveled and talked to the locals in both countries, and many barely make enough to buy food for their family on a day to day basis. Usually they buy food for their kids and some of the adults then eat every other day. They can't go to the cities and find new jobs because they have no marketable skills, no education, and they've never left or traveled before (communal ties).

[Neria]

I avoid seafood whenever I can simply because I cannot stand the taste of it. I am actually in Cambodia right now and was in Thailand for about a month before this. I have to say that the local villages heavily depend on the fishing industry and it would be a complete crisis if the rest of the world suddenly stopped eating fish. In Cambodia near Siem Reap on the Tonle Sap lake are the floating villages. We took a boat out to the village. It was an entire village on stilts above the water. We saw children rowing to school in small boats, chickens and pigs squeezed into cages that were held up by stilts, and lots and lots of fishing. People dried shrimps and small fish on homemade drying racks and it seemed like every person was either fishing, selling fish, or eating fish.

In the the market in the dowtown area of Phnom Penh it stinks of fish. Live eels flop around without water in boxes (and ocassionaly flop out of the boxes and onto the street), large piles of fish and shrimp overflow into piles of other things, and vendors on the street pushing carts of food always sell fried noodles or fried rice filled with shrimp. In addition to that, nearly every restraunt serves fish. These are just a few examples of how much small villages and even larger towns need the fishing industry.

Tanger, Morocco also is a good example of how much fishing is a major source of income for local people. In one of the markets their was an entire section just for fish and other seafood. Huge tables were overflowing with fish, eels , shrimp, squid, and even small sharks. (the sharks were pretty awful, all bloody and staring up at you with those eyes that seem dead even when the sharks are alive.)

[Princess Kae-Leah]

Yeah, it seems Cambodia is one of the most fishing-dependent countries in Asia. It seems Canada may be the most dependent on fishing in North America, other than probably some small Caribbean island countries. I try to be respectful and sympathetic to those who have no choice but to fish to survive, and anyway it's really large-scale industrialized commercial fishing that is destroying the oceans, NOT small-scale subsistence or recreational fishing. Some people in other countries catch or hunt only what is needed to feed them and their families, and they fish with spears, poles, and small nets, a far cry from the high-tech bottom trawlers common in so-called "First World" countries, so I don't think small fishing villages in Cambodia, Thailand, Morocco, etc. is really a major concern. I think how the cause of eliminating seafood from one's diet or reducing the intake of it should be presented is as an option to be considered, not something that everybody must do or else, since it just isn't realistic or even let's face it desirable for all people. The way sustainable seafood organizations usually promote their cause doesn't even mention that stopping eating seafood altogether or reducing it at least is something people might want to consider doing, which frustrates me since it makes those of us who share my position look like we're going to extremes/over-reacting and/or not respectful of those who have no choice but to eat fish or be involved in the fishing industry. I just want my stance to have a place at the table, basically, if that makes sense. :)

[Mermaid Photine]

Perhaps then it would be most useful for an enviromentally conscious (I know that's a spelling error there!) mer to try not to eat commercial fish, say the frozen supermarket kind, or the sort that is sold fried in fast food resteraunts and RedLobster/Olive Garden Chain-type places, but instead have seafood as more of a local thing. Example; a person goes to a riverside mom&pop resteraunt and has the lobster there. The small places need the help, anyways. While I am all for a free market despite its ups and downs, I really cannot stand mass-produced, chemically-enhanced, one size fits all things, and I think the really big sorts of comercial fishing fits into that. I am not sure if this would affect the Cambodia-type places, or if comercial fish distributors buy from there, but it seems like a better plan. I also think that things made on a smaller scale taste better.

[Aquatarian]

I personally am a vegetarian haha *points at screen name*. I personally don't find it appealing in the sense to eat any kind of animal but I would have to say that eating fish is more detrimental to the environment than eating poultry or red meat.

I realize that many people cannot and do not want to stop eating all meat but even cutting down on consumption of fish helps a lot. And even though there are people that depend on the fishing industry for a living, we should learn to become less and less dependent as society on the oceans. I mean if worse to comes to worse and we out fish the oceans, then fishermen are going to be out of a job anyhow.

And I'm all for a list of restaurants and/or specific fish that are more plentiful and therefore more okay to eat. Like I said before, any amount of reduction helps a lot. As long as there are many people participating, it makes a difference. In fact, I think I heard somewhere on the green channel that if everyone in the US cut down their meat consumption by 2/3 it would be the carbon equivalent to everyone in the US driving hybrid cars. Don't quote me on that because I don't have a solid source but it's an interesting concept to think about. When you cut down on the amount of meat you eat, your not only cutting out meat, you also cutting down on the amount of energy and water it takes to sustain the animal, and the energy and carbon emitted to transport that meat.

So by choosing to eat a mac n cheese instead of a tuna fish sandwich, you are saving all this extra energy and carbon from being released into the atmosphere. Sorry. I felt like a just went on a vege-rant just now.

[Odette]

good job everyone. i LOVE hearing what you find on this stuff and if i get any case study articles on this ill post it.

[Capt Nemo]

I'm going to get biblical on y'all!

Eat the fish while we still have them!

Revelation 8:8-9 "And the second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood; and a third of the creatures, which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed."

Revelation 8:10-11 has a third of the springs and rivers poisoned.

Later...

Revelation 16:3-4 " and the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died. And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of waters; and they became blood.

How soon?

The Book of Isaiah mentions a war between Israel and the surrounding nations. In that war Damascus will become a ruinous heap and will not be inhabited again. Cities that will be destroyed go as far as Bozrah (Bazra), which is Iraq, which is part of the land promised Israel in Exodus 23. However, Iran will sit this one out, or at least, add some missile support. This war will officially end with the signing of a 7 year peace deal put forth by whoever is the antichrist. After 3 1/2 years, Iran (Persia) leading what's left of the islamic nations, Russia, Turkey, Ethiopia, and the rest of the African islamic nations will attack Israel as mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel. The judgement mentioned in Revelation 8 will occur in the first 3 1/2 years, and what happens in Revelation 16 will happen in the second 3 1/2 years.


We can see the players mentioned already loosing their power to radical extremists, who want to do nothing but wipe Israel off the map. Iran is very cozy with Russia, and is supplying arms to Al Qaeda across Africa. (suprizing because AQ thinks Shia muslims are infidels and must be killed) I give a year or so for Syria to fall and stablize and Jordan and Iraq to follow. Maybe a year or two after that to get everybody on the same page, and the battle's on. Within this timeframe, the rapture must occur, as the antichrist cannot arise with the true believers still on earth.

My guesses on the time frame may be off. Jesus described some of these end time things happening like birth pangs. They start and stop, kinda like what we're seeing with the Arab Spring. We saw it happen all over, but right now, it's kinda at a standstill, but may take off again in more countries.

So time is short for the fish...and mermaids! So eat em if you got em!

And if you're Christian, start looking up! If not, please make yourself ready, you will be glad you did!

[Spindrift]

... I... uh. Am going to sit this one out.

[Princess Kae-Leah]

@Aquatarian, I'm so glad I'm not the only one here who thinks that eating fish is worse for the environment then even other animal products! I'm not 100% vegetarian, but in addition to not eating any seafood I don't eat beef, veal, lamb, or exotic or "game" meats, and not a lot of pork or turkey, my main meat is chicken and even that I don't eat every single day. As horrible as factory farming can be for the environment and the animals, I think the impact of overfishing is still a somewhat more serious problem in my opinion as it disrupts entire ecosystems and messes up the food chain. Due to bycatch, often a lot more than the tuna died for a can of Chicken Of The Sea, for example. I agree with you as well that we are still WAY too dependent on the ocean's resources. I think it's important that some coastal areas, when possible, should make whatever effort they can to diversify their local economies so they're not so tied up in the fishing, aqua-farming, and seafood processing industries, since some predict that most fish will be gone from the oceans within a few decades and 90% of large predatory fish populations have declined, so you're correct that the time may come when fishermen may be out of a job not because there's no market for fish any more, but no fish, period. Already some major fisheries have declined to the point where jobs were threatened or lost, like the Atlantic cod fishery.

@Pandorah, I think eating local and sustainable is a great option for those who care about the oceans but don't want to give up all seafood. I understand that seafood is not always easy to give up cold tuna(hehe, instead of cold turkey! ;)) for a variety of reasons, one being that so many people think it's so healthy and in some ways it truthfully is compared to other foods as it's usually pretty low in calories and contains omega-3 fatty acids, and another being the relative lack of true alternatives for those who genuinely love the taste, I wish there were more Boca Burger-type faux fish products out there for those who might want to give up seafood for environmental reasons but would miss the taste too much. Because of these reasons, I don't see why some organizations are so afraid to even merely suggest a seafood-free diet as an option, since so many people would never dream of giving it up, I seriously doubt any jobs will be lost if a few more people decided they didn't want seafood any more. I mean, animal rights groups have been promoting veganism/vegetarianism for a very long time now, and while they've managed to convince some people to go veg, it hasn't really affected the meat and dairy industries as a whole it seems.

@Nemo, well, all I'll say here is that I appreciate you sharing your beliefs with us so openly, and you are 1000% entitled to belief whatever you wish to.

I know the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society can be controversial for their uncompromising and somewhat extreme views on ocean conservation issues, but their website has a lot of very interesting articles on overfishing as well as of course other ocean issues. I know all of you may not agree with their strong stance in these articles(and Captain Watson tends to be quite blunt, so he may seem disrespectful to those with different views, and some may argue that these articles are pretty biased in favor of SSCS's views) but they're worth a read, for the information they contain about the truly dismal state of the world's fisheries and how some governments go out of their way to appease the fishing industry lobbyists. It's worth noting that Paul Watson grew up in a fishing community in Atlantic Canada, so he is not really speaking about this issues as a true outsider.
http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2011/01/14/the-great-fishing-debate-26
http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2009/06/24/imagine-a-world-without-fish-320
http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2006/01/05/homopechephobia-politics-corporate-welfare-and-the-world-crisis-in-the-fisheries-409
http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2006/10/24/the-canadian-department-of-fishy-business-364
http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2008/08/28/aqua-cats-are-eating-the-oceans-207
http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2009/04/07/we-need-to-stop-eating-the-oceans-164

[Mermaid Sirena]

I'm with you Spindrift, as for the eating it or not as of right now I have very little control over what I eat diet wise as I eat what is fixed that night. Though even once I do have full control over my meal plans I still plan on eating quite a bit of seafood for several reasons.

(1) I feel it is healthier then red meat not only because of it's type but because of the difference between how they grow up.
(2) It tastes amazing
(3) My BF/Fiance is unable to eat a lot of foods do to several medical conditions with out getting violently ill and seafood's are some of the few things he can eat on a semi regular basis and not get sick.

I do want to limit my diet though to perhaps only eat meat one the weekends or not on certain days to help with cost and the environment.

[-Annwyn-]

I'm a vegan, so I do not eat/consume meat or any animal byproducts. That is, no dairy, no eggs, no honey.

[thelocalmermaid]

Right on capt nemo!!! :) if I don't ever meet you in person! I'll be seeing you later :)

John 3:16

[Princess Kae-Leah]

Here are some notes from my mer-page about seafood consumption:
Why I Promote Abstaining From Seafood (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=343867222300101)
5 Reasons To Not Eat Tuna (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=343833008970189)
10 Reasons Not To Eat Shrimp (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=343820278971462)
15 Reasons Why Shark Fishing And Trade In Shark Meat/Shark Fins Should Be Made Illegal Worldwide(Source: Shark Savers) (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=340754772611346)
Don't Just Take This Mermaid's Word For It!: Anti-Seafood Consumption Quotes From Respected Environmentalists And Biologists (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=340084112678412)
More Reasons To Not Eat Seafood(Source: NMFS US National Bycatch Report) (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=334878199865670)
50 Reasons Not To Eat Seafood(Or At Least Reduce Your Fish Consumption To No More Than One Sustainable Fish Meal A Week!) (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=325909027429254)
Sustainable Seafood Guide (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=254395694580588)
Fish-Free Omega-3's! (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=254366244583533)

[-Annwyn-]

@Nemo : Dude, keep your religion to yourself and stop forcing it into my diet. This is not the place for religious discussion.

[Spindrift]

This is however, a place where all views have a chance to be expressed, whether or not the majority of readers agree to it or not.

[Princess Kae-Leah]

New Note On My Page:
10 Reasons To Not Eat Salmon(Source: PETA) (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=345202398833250)
While the focus for this note is obviously salmon consumption, most of the reasons could be applied to just about any kind of seafood.

[Gem Stone]

My family has our own boat that we go fishing on, and we only catch what we eat. What bothers me is all the fish that DIE because the charter boats are too ignorant to pop their bladders. If you pop their bladders, they can go back to their normal fishy lives. If you don't, they are forced at the surface to breath to death or be easy prey for other fish. Because of the charters, fishers who eat only what they catch are being forced to catch less and less so they charters can mercilessly kill hundreds of fish! I never buy fish at the store and I never eat fish from anywhere unless I caught it with my family. Charters do not fish for food, they fish for fun! And then the fish die pointless deaths! One time, we followed a charter for three miles, stopping every few feet to pop another snappers bladder so he (or she) could return to the depths. The charters are the real problem! Although I do respect your decision not treat our fishy friends, my question is, what's the difference between eating a fish and a cow? A hamburger or a fish stick (real of course. Not that disgusting processed stuff at the store)?

And please don't harp on someone stating their religious views. It's very unbecoming to tell someone to not state their opinions, no matter where they came from. I don't care at all about twilight or harry potter but when my friends start talking about them, I listen. So why can't you?

Again, I truly respect your decision whether it be to eat fish or not (to each his own), and I don't want anyone to take this offensively. It's just me.

[Princess Kae-Leah]

RE:
Although I do respect your decision not treat our fishy friends, my question is, what's the difference between eating a fish and a cow? A hamburger or a fish stick (real of course. Not that disgusting processed stuff at the store)?

Personally, I stopped eating beef this past summer because the cattle-farming industry is really just as environmentally damaging as the commercial fishing industry and eating red meat is really bad for one's health. Did you know that the meat industry is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the transportation industry? I wrote a note for my mer-page "25 Reasons Not To Eat Red Meat". I do, however, still eat chicken once or twice a week. What's the difference between eating fish and eating chicken? Well, honestly, fishing on a subsistence level like your family does probably actually does LESS damage to the environment than chicken factory farming, so I very much respect your decision to only eat fish you and your family catches and not support the commercial fishing industry :). However, large-scale industrialized commercial fishing doesn't just kill fish for food, it harms entire ecosystems and countless marine mammals, sea birds, sharks, turtles, and other "non-target" animals are killed as bycatch. Did you know that only 15% of what shrimp trawlers catch is shrimp? Whenever I see a can of tuna or a shrimp ring, I think about all the other animals who had to die so humans can have cheap canned tuna, shrimp, and other seafood, where usually all that had to die for me to eat chicken is the chicken. Not to say, though, that are not still some pretty serious animal welfare and environmental issues with chicken factory farming, which I why I try to limit my consumption of ALL meats(been basically transitioning very slowly into a more vegetarian diet) and buy free-range and local when I can. Hope that helps answer your question, dahling!

(http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=329349023751921)

[Mermaid Miel]

I do eat fish on a once-monthly basis. I however, believe in "sea-farming" or aquaculture where fish are raised for either consumption or release into the wild to boost the population. So when I buy fish I look for Farmed-fish.

I don't eat crustaceans, prawns or shellfish. Partly because of personal taste, partly because my mum's allergic so I did not have much growing up.
I am also opposed to the slaughter of cetaceans and sharks for food, sport and politics.
you say "Politics?" but after a shark attack, in order to be "seen to do something" Australian authorities will send out boats to catch and kill sharks in the area.... with no way of proving whether that shark was the specific one that attacked or not... sometimes even if the shark isn't even of a species capable of being a man-eater.

[-Annwyn-]

And please don't harp on someone stating their religious views. It's very unbecoming to tell someone to not state their opinions, no matter where they came from. I don't care at all about twilight or harry potter but when my friends start talking about them, I listen. So why can't you?



Why can't I do the same? 1: If my friends are talking about something I have no interest in, I'm going to switch off or change the subject. I'm not going to stand there like an idiot pretending like I have a fake interest in that particular topic just to appease them by pretending to be someone I'm not. 2: This is the Mernetwork, where people of all backgrounds come together to enjoy merfolk. This is not a place to preach or prosthelytize religious POV's. There are religious forums on the net if you wanna go do that.

[Alveric]

Fortunately, unlike with conversations, it is easy to just carry on to the next post once you find that you don't care for the one you're reading. Let there be peace. :)

Alveric

[-Annwyn-]

Agreed!

[Amphitrite]

As someone who LOVES to fish, prepare it and eat it, I see no problem with it. However, I do agree that we need BETTER methods of commercial-scale fishing.

If you want to know more in-depth about what's happening in MI when it comes to fishing, feel free to check http://www.great-lakes.org/ or to ask me personally. I truly do understand the need for better regulations and practices but I also understand the very wonderful option of choosing to fish in a way that does not harm the ecosystem. :) We do also have a 'magazine' to keep fishermen up to date on what's going on, new regulations and rules, seasons and whatever else the DNR of MI has to say. I think that our natural resources are handled reasonably and responsibly.

[Mermaid Sirena]

I thought we weren't allowed to eat the fish we caught in the great lakes do to mercury poisoning and pollution.

[Princess Kae-Leah]

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kae-Leah-Royal-Purple-Mermaid-Princess/253963584623799#!/notes/kae-leah-royal-purple-mermaid-princess/20-reasons-why-seafood-is-not-a-health-food/346571922029631 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kae-Leah-Royal-Purple-Mermaid-Princess/253963584623799#%21/notes/kae-leah-royal-purple-mermaid-princess/20-reasons-why-seafood-is-not-a-health-food/346571922029631)
Here's a new note on my mer-page on how seafood isn't nearly as healthy as so many people think.

[Amphitrite]

I know of a woman who makes a living catching and selling whitefish from Lake Michigan. :) I am mainly talking about smaller lakes, for example, Torch Lake, Muskelunge Lake and the many other lakes and rivers around here.


My doctor, among many others, disagrees that fish fat is so very bad for you. Omega-3 fatty acids found primarily in fish are needed in order to create what is called a myelin sheath. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myelin. Without this fatty acid (also found in other sources although not as largely), is necessary. My doctor has told me specifically that omega-3 fatty acid found in fish is better than plant-based.

[Mermaid Saphira]

^ Ahhh, I don't eat fish. Should I start?? :(

[Princess Kae-Leah]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree, right, Amphitrite(sp?)! :)

Here's where I got the info for my latest note:
http://www.vegetarian.org.uk/campaigns/fish/
http://www.vegetarian.org.uk/guides/Fish/ (http://www.vegetarian.org.uk/guides/Fish/)
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2003nl/030200pufishisnothealthfood.htm
http://www.vibrancyuk.com/fishconceptions.html
http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/Think-Fish-Is-a-Health-Food.aspx

Here are the positions of some environmental activists and marine biologists on seafood that I agree with:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr9EKTiSj9M
http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2007/10/08/fishmonger-scientists-peddle-poisons-to-the-public-322
http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2010/07/22/the-faeroes-and-mercury-in-our-seafood-77

Everybody should watch this documentary!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V325y7QCg3c

[Amphitrite]

Yep! :)

[Princess Kae-Leah]

Something to keep in mind if you don't want to give up all seafood is that usually the seafood that is most sustainable and has the lowest mercury content are those that are low on the food webs: herring, anchovies, sardines, mackerel, oysters, krill, clams, caviar, crayfish etc. Even if you just stop eating predatory fish like tuna, shark, swordfish, salmon, and what not, as well as shrimp, which while pretty low on the food chain has the highest bycatch rate of all seafood types, you're making a BIG difference! :)
(http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=254395694580588)http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=254395694580588

[Princess Kae-Leah]

I'd like people to consider giving up seafood for the 40 days of Lent, whether you're religious or not!

[leeloo]

Hi Kae,
I just wanted to say that I understand your herbivore mer view. I like the idea of mers being peaceful loving creatures, even if it conflicts with some legends. Personally I am vegan, I have been for about half a year now. Ever since watching a video about the conditions and effects of factory farming that was all the motivation I needed. I had wanted to be vegetarian for years but never thought I could give up meat. After watching that video I quickly became vegan, and I am the type of person who can't last a week on a "diet" lol. I was so happy to discover that there are so many alternatives I never new of before that makes being vegan so easy. They even have vegan mayo! And there are vegan recipes for almost everything.

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569 (http://cottagenet.ru/plan/606)

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ме�т (http://eyesvision.ru/lectures/338)

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Bett (http://eyesvisions.com)

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Quee (http://factoringfee.ru/t/1105393)

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Мо�к (http://filmzones.ru/t/764531)

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John (http://gageboard.ru/t/883288)

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Clif (http://gagrule.ru/t/751515)

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Богд (http://gallduct.ru/t/969532)

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Vale (http://galvanometric.ru/t/456110)

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войн (http://gangforeman.ru/t/810601)

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Семе (http://gangwayplatform.ru/t/944754)

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4CS2 (http://garbagechute.ru/t/1143316)

[xaccer2]

�рон (http://gardeningleave.ru/t/806344)

[xaccer2]

Renp (http://gascautery.ru/t/1077866)

[xaccer2]

Peep (http://gashbucket.ru/t/468710)

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�кла (http://gasreturn.ru/t/1002296)

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DuPo (http://gatedsweep.ru/t/567125)

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утра (http://gaugemodel.ru/t/1160326)

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каме (http://gaussianfilter.ru/t/1134788)

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Mich (http://gearpitchdiameter.ru/t/835810)

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Кра� (http://geartreating.ru/t/815466)

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1917 (http://generalizedanalysis.ru/t/763367)

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Tesc (http://generalprovisions.ru/t/562807)

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T-90 (http://geophysicalprobe.ru/t/575212)

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Stag (http://geriatricnurse.ru/t/415290)

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Diab (http://getintoaflap.ru/t/754496)

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Alfr (http://getthebounce.ru/t/292127)

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Henr (http://habeascorpus.ru/t/850470)

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Chri (http://habituate.ru/t/1041132)

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Menn (http://hackedbolt.ru/t/449747)

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У�ач (http://hackworker.ru/t/939616)

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Кирж (http://hadronicannihilation.ru/t/957538)

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Кн�з (http://haemagglutinin.ru/t/853825)

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Bria (http://hailsquall.ru/t/663195)

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Yuui (http://hairysphere.ru/t/651278)

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Levi (http://halforderfringe.ru/t/565248)

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John (http://halfsiblings.ru/t/662296)

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Pure (http://hallofresidence.ru/t/565209)

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Palm (http://haltstate.ru/t/561192)

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�ент (http://handcoding.ru/t/852123)

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Clar (http://handportedhead.ru/t/1027803)

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Ahav (http://handradar.ru/t/562938)

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Merc (http://handsfreetelephone.ru/t/524854)

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Film (http://hangonpart.ru/t/768756)

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Push (http://haphazardwinding.ru/t/565821)

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Bran (http://hardalloyteeth.ru/t/562710)

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Tier (http://hardenedconcrete.ru/t/567658)

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Kiss (http://harmonicinteraction.ru/t/568270)

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Таль (http://hartlaubgoose.ru/t/196246)

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Sela (http://hatchholddown.ru/t/602354)

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Клей (http://haveafinetime.ru/t/791920)

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1238 (http://hazardousatmosphere.ru/t/395827)

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Монг (http://headregulator.ru/t/806708)

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Kawa (http://heartofgold.ru/t/1035871)

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Vogu (http://heatageingresistance.ru/t/557100)

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GILD (http://heatinggas.ru/t/1183327)

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Pier (http://heavydutymetalcutting.ru/t/842302)

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Niki (http://jacketedwall.ru/t/603602)

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�ату (http://japanesecedar.ru/t/606255)

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Letz (http://jibtypecrane.ru/t/608367)

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Sela (http://jobabandonment.ru/t/605849)

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Volu (http://jobstress.ru/t/605820)

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Most (http://jogformation.ru/t/636993)

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�р�л (http://jointcapsule.ru/t/821038)

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Lycr (http://jointsealingmaterial.ru/t/1142291)

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�нат (http://journallubricator.ru/t/786852)

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Кры� (http://juicecatcher.ru/t/786739)

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Kurt (http://junctionofchannels.ru/t/850901)

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Стри (http://justiciablehomicide.ru/t/835297)

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Ерма (http://juxtapositiontwin.ru/t/819620)

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�мбо (http://kaposidisease.ru/t/819564)

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Umes (http://keepagoodoffing.ru/t/771067)

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Miyo (http://keepsmthinhand.ru/t/610899)

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XXVI (http://kentishglory.ru/t/837185)

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Зы�к (http://kerbweight.ru/t/820435)

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Naso (http://kerrrotation.ru/t/607031)

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Zone (http://keymanassurance.ru/t/609783)

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Влод (http://keyserum.ru/t/883454)

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куль (http://kickplate.ru/t/433122)

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Шапи (http://killthefattedcalf.ru/t/679593)

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GHOS (http://kilowattsecond.ru/t/607002)

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ERIN (http://kingweakfish.ru/t/610164)

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цент (http://kinozones.ru/film/606)

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diam (http://kleinbottle.ru/t/611973)

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LAPI (http://kneejoint.ru/t/606409)

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п�их (http://knifesethouse.ru/t/887901)

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Zone (http://knockonatom.ru/t/608668)

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GROP (http://knowledgestate.ru/t/611937)

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Вла� (http://kondoferromagnet.ru/t/676934)

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Zone (http://labeledgraph.ru/t/1193374)

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Таур (http://laborracket.ru/t/767876)

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газе (http://labourearnings.ru/t/893371)

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John (http://labourleasing.ru/t/893561)

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Vale (http://laburnumtree.ru/t/922706)

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англ (http://lacingcourse.ru/t/1067800)

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Chri (http://lacrimalpoint.ru/t/900136)

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Zone (http://lactogenicfactor.ru/t/1185884)

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Шоин (http://lacunarycoefficient.ru/t/852607)

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Икон (http://ladletreatediron.ru/t/806487)

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�рео (http://laggingload.ru/t/832973)

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�нто (http://laissezaller.ru/t/854923)

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Соде (http://lambdatransition.ru/t/831667)

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Гурь (http://laminatedmaterial.ru/t/833831)

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Зо�и (http://lammasshoot.ru/t/833783)

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жанр (http://lamphouse.ru/t/886758)

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�виц (http://lancecorporal.ru/t/831547)

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Турч (http://lancingdie.ru/t/813241)

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XIII (http://landingdoor.ru/t/811901)

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5001 (http://landmarksensor.ru/t/1183718)

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Bram (http://landreform.ru/t/1046878)

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Пушк (http://landuseratio.ru/t/855758)

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одна (http://languagelaboratory.ru/t/1050879)

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пла� (http://largeheart.ru/shop/1160824)

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хоро (http://lasercalibration.ru/shop/589527)

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Гара (http://laserlens.ru/lase_zakaz/614)

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и�ку (http://laserpulse.ru/shop/590233)

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Пара (http://laterevent.ru/shop/1030923)

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Hans (http://latrinesergeant.ru/shop/452381)

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Ardo (http://layabout.ru/shop/452079)

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XIII (http://leadingfirm.ru/shop/105525)

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Форм (http://learningcurve.ru/shop/460187)

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Юдох (http://leaveword.ru/shop/460671)

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Сачо (http://machinesensible.ru/shop/176864)

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Мали (http://magneticequator.ru/shop/445817)

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Olme (http://magnetotelluricfield.ru/shop/194281)

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Prem (http://mailinghouse.ru/shop/176930)

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ALAS (http://majorconcern.ru/shop/269609)

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Heid (http://mammasdarling.ru/shop/160172)

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PROT (http://managerialstaff.ru/shop/159881)

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PHAN (http://manipulatinghand.ru/shop/613662)

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п�тн (http://manualchoke.ru/shop/598163)

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обра (http://medinfobooks.ru/book/606)

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Jazz (http://mp3lists.ru/item/606)

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Frel (http://nameresolution.ru/shop/570681)

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ки�т (http://naphtheneseries.ru/shop/104798)

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Aero (http://narrowmouthed.ru/shop/460884)

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шер� (http://nationalcensus.ru/shop/486726)

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Trop (http://naturalfunctor.ru/shop/176691)

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Moxi (http://neatplaster.ru/shop/454725)

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книг (http://necroticcaries.ru/shop/167490)

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wwwn (http://negativefibration.ru/shop/185738)

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Mist (http://neighbouringrights.ru/shop/446657)

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Iwak (http://objectmodule.ru/shop/108684)

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supe (http://observationballoon.ru/shop/95656)

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Brau (http://obstructivepatent.ru/shop/98462)

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Clor (http://oceanmining.ru/shop/457979)

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XVII (http://packedspheres.ru/shop/580432)

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Южин (http://pagingterminal.ru/shop/682825)

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Intr (http://palatinebones.ru/shop/681153)

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Степ (http://papercoating.ru/shop/581981)

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Тимо (http://paraconvexgroup.ru/shop/687818)

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Arno (http://parasolmonoplane.ru/shop/1167137)

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Учен (http://parkingbrake.ru/shop/1167188)

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Мине (http://partfamily.ru/shop/1166202)

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Крак (http://partialmajorant.ru/shop/1168982)

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Иллю (http://quadrupleworm.ru/shop/1539076)

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Cold (http://quasimoney.ru/shop/594091)

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иллю (http://quenchedspark.ru/shop/595898)

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Mars (http://quodrecuperet.ru/shop/1070084)

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Hube (http://rabbetledge.ru/shop/1072486)

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Гала (http://radialchaser.ru/shop/226554)

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Acti (http://radiationestimator.ru/shop/503879)

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Ð*уди (http://railwaybridge.ru/shop/514271)

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пле� (http://randomcoloration.ru/shop/512114)

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и�ка (http://rapidgrowth.ru/shop/861183)

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Соде (http://rattlesnakemaster.ru/shop/1077642)

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Сики (http://reachthroughregion.ru/shop/317783)

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Joey (http://readingmagnifier.ru/shop/512567)

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Феру (http://rearchain.ru/shop/640834)

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Suza (http://recessioncone.ru/shop/515787)

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ТМПи (http://reducingflange.ru/shop/1678448)

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Л�То (http://regeneratedprotein.ru/shop/1758546)

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Матв (http://safedrilling.ru/shop/1813879)

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Орло (http://salestypelease.ru/shop/1066021)

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Word (http://samplinginterval.ru/shop/1432920)

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Прин (http://scarcecommodity.ru/shop/1487425)

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Тимо (http://seismicefficiency.ru/shop/304205)

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