Sustainable Seafood

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David Barouh displays fresh fish for sale at Seattle’s Pike Place Market
David Barouh displays fresh fish for sale at Seattle’s Pike Place Market.
© Rich Frishman

As a consumer, you can choose what kinds of seafood to buy. Some species are in good supply and make excellent choices. Others have declined dramatically due to overfishing or environmental factors. Choosing those species adds to the problem. Still other species aren’t bad choices, but there are concerns you may want to think about.

So choose wisely. Buy sustainable seafood—seafood harvested in a way that supports productive fisheries and coastal communities and also maintains healthy ecosystems. Use a consumer seafood guide to help make choices. Take the helm and manage a marine fishery on your own. 

The continent of Asia has the highest consumption of seafood in the world.

– United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization

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Cool Stuff

Sustainable Seafood: Cool Stuff

Overfishing is leading to an abundance of less desirable species like jellyfish.

Are you a seafood lover? Test your sushi smarts. Watch two clever videos on overfishing. Then, take a look at this jellyfish burger and think about whether you can get used to the taste of jellyfish, because that’s all we might have left at some point. Could French fries make them taste better?

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Sections

Science

Photograph of a bright yellow fish.

Could you be eating endangered tuna at your favorite sushi place and not know it? Find out how DNA barcoding can help identify exactly which species are being sold and served. Plus, a look at the pluses and minuses of fish farming as well as devices that help reduce “bycatch”— marine animals that are unintentionally trapped and killed in fishing gear.

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Threats and Solutions

These statistics come from a United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization review.

The global status of marine fish stocks is dismal. Many fish species, like the bluefin tuna, are on the brink of extinction. The pressure on the bluefin is extraordinarily high because of market demand for sashimi. A single tuna may be sold for more than $170,000!

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Cultural Connections

Sablefish are among the many delicious and sustainable seafood choices.

So what’s the answer? What can we do? Learn more here about sustainable consumer choices, cooking and recipes, and how to “look for the label”—the Marine Stewardship Council blue label indicating that seafood has been certified as sustainable.

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Comments

This website rules!

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 06/04/2010 - 10:02am.

Thank you for providing the consumer seafood guide. I think this resource is important enough that it should be on your homepage so everyone sees it right away, and they don't have to hunt for it!

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 08/08/2010 - 6:07pm.

I just want to thank you for sharing the knowledge and protecting our oceans! I will spread the word!

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 11/20/2010 - 12:45pm.

Thank YOU for spreading the word!

Submitted by Ocean Portal Team on Mon, 11/22/2010 - 12:01pm.

Thank you for bringing some attention to this important issue and raising public awareness about its affects and ways people can choose to eat seafood responsibly! Your ocean portal is a great resource!

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 01/13/2012 - 12:01pm.

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