Sustainable seafood choices
“The fish we choose today will directly affect the health of our oceans tomorrow.
Overfishing, destructive fishing gear and poor aquaculture practices impact significantly on our seas, marine wildlife and habitats. An incredible 80% of the world’s fish stocks are now over-exploited or fished right up to their limit. Once considered inexhaustible, our oceans are now in a state of global crisis, and they need our help.
As consumers we can and do make a difference through the choices we make. By choosing sustainable seafood we take a step towards a future with healthy oceans by helping drive change in the way our fish and shellfish are caught or farmed. We can all help make our seafood sustainable.” (AMCS)
Seafood is frequently consumed in the Australian diet. There are significant health benefits to eating seafood, it is packed full of nutrients, beneficial oils, and lean protein. There is however increasing evidence that our oceans are overfished, with many commercially fished species in danger of collapse. According to the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), three quarters of the worlds fish stocks are over exploited or fished right up to their limit. In Australia alone, 15 species of fish are classified as overfished. The sustainable seafood guide is available to download at the web address below, and there is also a free iPhone application – it makes it incredibly easy to stay informed and check a decision when you are at the fish market or a restaurant.
For more information and to check out the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s guide to sustainable seafood choices visit http://www.sustainableseafood.org.au/Sustainable-Seafood-Guide-Australia.asp?active_page_id=695
The guide does place Tuna on the ‘Say No’ list. This is largely due to fishing methods that result in unintended by-catch, and large declines in many of the tuna populations around the world. The AMCS recommend choosing cans of Australian sardines and Red or Pink Salmon from Alaska or Canada instead. Canned tuna is however still a popular choice. Greenpeace has published a “Canned Tuna Guide” that assess many of the canned tuna brands on the market according to their sustainability policy, fishing methods used, tuna species used, labelling, support for marine reserves and equitable tuna policies, and, a guarantee of a companies supply chain. The two highest rated brands on the market are ‘Fish 4 Ever’ and ‘Sefacol’. For more information click on the link below:
www.greenpeace.org/australia/en/what-we-do/oceans/Take-action/canned-tuna-guide/
Tips for Fish Shopping
| Better Choices | Think Twice | Say No |
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