Sustainable seafood
Sustainable seafood is from either fished or farmed sources that can maintain or increase production in the future without jeopardizing the ecosystems from which it was acquired.
The sustainable seafood movement has gained momentum as more people become aware of both overfishing and environmentally destructive fishing methods.
"[2] Considering the rising global population and the pressure that it has, and will continue to exert on the Earth's resources, a more sustainable method of fishing is necessary if humans wish to utilize its natural abundance.
The Sustainable Seafood Movement is an initiative born through the realization that the marine ecosystems of the world were being overexploited and destroyed.
[4] Through social marketing, the collaboration between environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and industry allowed for the consumer to make informed choices, potentially contributing to the conservation of marine biodiversity.
[4] Labeling is not only an effective regulatory tool in encouraging consumers to make environmentally friendly choices,[5] but it also provides a financial benefit to producers.
In 1996 the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) implemented the first certification program[3] Since then, they have not only made a distinct effort to maintain the health of ecosystems, but they have also contributed to more financial success for producers.
For instance, once the American Albacore Fishing Association had its tuna certified to the MSC standard, they were able to obtain premium prices for their product.
[6] For the small fishing community in Bonita, California, certification allowed them to sell direct, as opposed to depending on the instability on the dock.
[6] More companies and organizations are choosing to use environmentally sustainable production, such as ecolabeling, to gain a greater market share and higher profits.
[3] Awareness campaigns focus on educating the public and encouraging them to purchase products that consider the vitality of marine species.
[4] Guides are typically constructed into three categories, some using the analogy of a traffic light's colours: red, yellow, and green.
[4] Several organizations, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, have developed their own guides or wallet cards to be distributed to the public.
Unlike some modern fishing techniques that can be harmful to marine ecosystems, spearfishing can be practiced in a sustainable manner when done responsibly.
[13] Sustainable fishing methods are focused on minimizing environmental effects, because of this gear modifications can be made, such as Turtle Exclusion Devices.
[16] The Seafood Guide below, made by SeaChoice, highlights which species are best to eat, and which should be avoided based on their management, abundance, and whether they have been caught or farmed in environmentally sustainable ways.
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council was founded in 2009 by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH).
Their mission is to use a combination of certified fisheries and ecolabeling to make people aware of how important it is to preserve our oceans.
Critics condemn the Marine Stewardship Council for certifying specific fisheries that may be in trouble, harmful to the environment, or where there is a lack of information available.
[27] For example, the Antarctic toothfish fishery in the Ross Sea was awarded an MSC label, despite a lack of basic information on the stock itself.
"[28] Friend of the Sea is currently a project of the World Sustainability Organization, an international trademark registered with humanitarian and environmental conservation mission.
[41] The desired outcome is to decrease overfishing and revitalize populations of the more popular fish and redirect the attention to more sustainable species.
