The marine industry is in trouble. Global warming and overfishing are causing fish stocks to decline, which could lead to future fish shortages and job losses for those in the industry, such as the best reef fish and seafood vendors, the best swordfish suppliers, the fresh tuna suppliers, and companies processing seafood and exporters. Fortunately, there are ways we can adapt our fishing and conservation methods to ensure the industry survives.
Choose sustainable seafood options.
avoiding fish that are overfished or fished in ways that harm the environment. You can find out if a fish is sustainable by checking its status on the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch list. When buying seafood, look for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) blue eco-label, which indicates that it was sustainably caught.
Eating lower in the food chain can also help preserve fish. For example, choose sardines over tuna because they are often lower in mercury and other pollutants and have a smaller environmental footprint. Smaller fish also tend to be more abundant than large ones, so when the smaller ones are caught, they have less of an impact on stocks.
Another way to save money is to eat out less often. If you like sushi, try making it once
-a monthly treat instead of an event every week. You can also explore other types of cuisine that do not revolve around seafood, such as vegetarian or Thai dishes. When you eat it, make sure you buy it from sustainable sources and cook it in an environmentally friendly way.
Eat only what you need – don’t order more than you can eat.
By ordering and eating only what you can eat, you help reduce waste. Restaurants across the country are now starting to adopt “no waste” policies when it comes to orders. So the next time you go out for sushi, think about how much you need and be mindful of your order.
Don’t feel at home that you need to finish everything on your plate when you’re already full. It’s okay to leave food behind—in fact, it’s one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
Use a reusable container when taking leftovers from the restaurant.
When taking leftovers home from a restaurant in a doggy bag, always ask for a reusable container. This will help further reduce your carbon footprint and waste. When you’re done eating, don’t forget to recycle the container properly.
Reusable containers aren’t just good for the environment; they can also be used over and over again, helping you save money in the long run. So next time you’re at a restaurant, don’t forget to bring a reusable container or ask for one at the restaurant.
If we want to ensure that there is enough seafood for everyone, now and in the future, it is essential to contribute to reducing waste. If you follow these simple tips, we can all make a difference.
Buy frozen seafood whenever possible.
When buying seafood, it is better to buy the frozen version whenever possible. They are usually caught closer to shore, which means it has had less time to travel and therefore have a lower carbon footprint. In addition, freezing immediately after catching helps preserve its freshness and taste.
So next time you’re at the grocery store, be sure to check out the freezer section for sustainable options.
Avoid overfishing by supporting responsible fishing.
Overfishing has become a global problem as many fish stocks are now depleted as a result of decades of commercial fishing. This led to a decrease in the overall quality and quantity available, as well as an increase in prices.
Fortunately, there are steps consumers can take to help solve this problem. One way is to promote responsible fishing that uses sustainable practices. These fisheries are often certified by organizations such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which ensures that they operate in a way that does not harm the environment or deplete fish stocks.
When shopping, look for products with the MSC blue label. This will help you make sure your purchase supports responsible fishing and helps protect our oceans.
In addition, you can also buy products that have been grown sustainably, meaning that it has not contributed to overfishing. One way to tell if a seafood product is sustainably farmed is to look for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Blue Label.
By supporting responsible, sustainable aquaculture, we can help ensure that future generations can enjoy it.
Educate yourself about the seafood you eat.
Education is vital if we are to save the future of the seafood industry. When you know more about what you eat, you can make better decisions about what to buy.
For example, did you know that there are over 300 species of shrimp? Or that only about 20% of the tuna caught is used for canned tuna?
Educating yourself about the fish you eat will help you make more sustainable purchasing decisions. When everyone makes more sustainable choices, we can all help save the future of the seafood industry.
