Although she initially worked on toxic pollution issues, Niaz came to appreciate ocean conservation as a Greenpeace campaigner working in fishing communities around the world.

“At first I wasn’t interested in being involved in what I thought was an esoteric, ‘save the whales’ campaign. I had been working with people who couldn’t breathe because of the toxic pollution in their area. But, I came to realize the similarities between the battles to save the oceans and stop the poisoning of our bodies. The same mentality that multi-national companies putting profits before our health and economic justice were poisoning the health of the oceans which directly impacts the lives of people who depend on its resources.”

In 2005, Niaz made the leap and founded the organization Clean Catch. In Gloucester, small-scale trawlers, hook-and-line, and pot fishermen share the harbor with fleets from multinational corporations. Although quite diverse, the fishermen often represent themselves as a cohesive group. Niaz works with small-scale fishermen to stand up for their own interests, which may be diametrically opposed to those of the environmentally destructive industrial fleets.

"There’s a difference between those who make a living at sea and those who make a killing. I work with those who make a living.”

Unfortunately, “those who make a killing,” can have a lot of political clout that influences the way fish are represented, even by environmentalists, Niaz explained. She believes that the industrial fleet’s influence over seafood labeling programs is putting the oceans at risk. For example, Atlantic herring is sometimes listed as green enough to eat. Although herring are marketed as sustainable, many overfished species depend on herring as a source of food.  Increased exploitation of herring could counteract attempts to restore endangered fisheries.

“Consumers need to look beyond just a catchy label,” Niaz concluded. “They need to ask the tough questions about where their fish comes from and who caught it.”