Sustainable seafood what is

Individual decisions DO make a big difference. The marketplace for sustainable seafood has grown significantly in the past 20 years simply because it has evolved to match the demands of individual consumers. The best thing you can possibly do is ask questions. How was it caught or raised? Does it have any sustainability certifications? About Blog Contact.

Your Top Questions Answered. Share This. Sign-up for more BlueHabits Tips Be a part of the global movement to improve ocean health. How do I know if my seafood is sustainable? Wait… why is there more than one seafood guide? Is there any seafood should I avoid entirely? Should I be eating seafood at all? Do I as an individual really make a difference? Join BlueHabits Community Be a part of the global movement to improve ocean health.

Lindsay has a diverse background with an M. She is deeply passionate about ocean issues and has been working to advance global marine conservation for the past 5 years. The United States has interests as both a seafood-consuming nation and a fishing nation, so it is critical that we take an active role in shaping the conservation and management of international fisheries.

Learn more about international cooperation for sustainable fisheries and seafood. Sustainable Seafood. Table of Contents What is sustainable seafood? What role does aquaculture play in sustainable seafood? How does the United States contribute to sustainable fisheries internationally? Learn more about sustainable seafood. What is sustainable seafood? Prevent overfishing. In the US, the five types of seafood consumed most often include: shrimp, salmon, tuna, tilapia and pollock.

These fish species face increased pressures from overfishing, harmful catch methods, pollution and habitat destruction. For example, the collapse of the Atlantic cod, beluga sturgeon and Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries have dramatic economic and ecological consequences.

Despite efforts to maintain sustainable wild fishing, past practices have left certain species vulnerable to overfishing. Overfished stocks need to be allowed to recover; in other words, some fishing should be allowed, but at reduced levels to help maximize the number of fish, which can help to rebuild a population on the whole.

Stocks of fish are managed by using catch limits to reduce the chance of overfishing and increase biological and economic sustainability of wild fishing. Since , 41 stocks of fish have been rebuilt. However, since , the 30 stocks of fish on the overfishing list and the 38 stocks on the overfished list are at all-time lows.

The US is a world leader in efforts to keep its wild fish stocks sustainable. Wild species are monitored and managed to maintain healthy fish populations. The US also plays an important role in international fishing agreements to achieve global fishing goals. Because fish and other seafood are a globally shared resource, there have been major declines in popular species due to overfishing, habitat loss and pollution.

Fish farming refers to growing fish in captivity for food and other human uses. Fish farming is as old as civilization: for example, 5, years ago, Chinese villagers trapped carp in artificial lakes that formed when flooded rivers receded.

Today, similar practices occur in near-shore or on-shore operations worldwide. More recently, there has been the addition of deepwater fish farms, further offshore.

In the US, we have many forms of fish farms that raise species, such as oysters, clams, mussels and salmon. More than 90 percent of shrimp consumed in the United States is imported, and of that, most is farm-raised. Farm-raised shrimp are grown in large man-made ponds along coastal areas, often damaging fragile and important ecosystems, including mangrove forests.

Many of the inputs used in shrimp farming can have negative effects on human health and the environment. When ponds are drained to collect the shrimp, polluted water often containing antibiotics and pesticides is released into the surrounding environment.

Imported shrimp may contain harmful bacteria or be contaminated with drugs. In , Consumer Reports conducted tests on US and imported shrimp and found that 60 percent of raw shrimp tested positive for bacteria that can cause food poisoning, including: Salmonella , Vibrio , Staphylococcus aureus and E.

Five percent of all imported raw shrimp that was tested contained illegal antibiotic residues. The best approach to making sustainable seafood choices is to know your seafood. Rather than eating imported farmed shrimp, look for shrimp or prawns that were either wild caught or sustainably farmed in the United States. There are enough fish left in the sea to reproduce indefinitely. With minimal environmental impact.

Fishing operations must maintain the structure, productivity, function, and diversity of the marine ecosystem. By a fishery with effective management in place. Fisheries must comply with relevant laws and have a management system that allows it to respond quickly to changes in the status quo. YouTube Watch video. Sustainable seafood history The sustainable seafood movement began in the s with a growing consciousness around the importance of protecting a source of wild food, good jobs, and healthy oceans.

Sustainability is about the future The sustainability of a fishery is an ongoing process. Find out more Our approach Our approach means everyone can play a part in that future while enjoying seafood, not avoiding it.