Sustainable seafood

• Current controversies
• What is sustainable seafood?
• Privatizing the ocean
• Farmed fish
• Fishing methods
• PCC's seafood standards
• Links and resources

What is sustainable seafood?

Certain marine species may be sustainable in a certain fishery, but identifying sustainable fisheries may shift from time to time.

The ready availability of all kinds of seafood at markets and restaurants gives the impression that the world's fish are abundant. The truth is the oceans are in trouble and more than two-thirds — nearly 70 percent — of the world's fisheries are fully fished or over fished, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

People demand a year-round supply of seafood such as salmon and shrimp, but fish are seasonal, too, like other animals and plants. When consumers buy seafood from an ecologically sound fishery, it reduces pressure on depleted and threatened species.

Modern-day fishing methods are so sophisticated, many species have been depleted and those left have no place left to hide.

Educating consumers and steering them to sustainable seafood is part of the work being done by organizations such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Environmental Defense, Blue Ocean Institute, the National Audubon Society, Food & Water Watch, and other organizations.

Panels of marine experts monitor the oceans' fisheries and periodically designate which fish are abundant and caught in environmentally friendly ways, and which ones aren't, and categorize them for consumers in helpful guides.

PCC uses Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Guides, which are updated every six months.