July 21, 2023

Sustainable Seafood: What It Means and How to Choose It

By Aussie Meat
Sustainable Seafood: What It Means and How to Choose It

Seafood is a delicious and nutritious source of protein, but it's important that we consider the impact of our seafood choices on the environment. Overfishing, destructive fishing practices, and habitat destruction have led to the decline of many fish populations and harm to marine ecosystems. Fortunately, there are ways to choose seafood that is sustainably sourced and environmentally friendly.

Certification Programs

One way to identify sustainable seafood is to look for certification labels on products. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) are two of the most widely recognized certification programs for sustainable seafood. These labels indicate that the seafood has been sourced from a fishery or farm that meets strict environmental and social standards.

Overfishing

Overfishing is a major threat to many fish populations and the health of our oceans. When fishes are caught faster than they can reproduce, their populations decline, which can have serious consequences for marine ecosystems. To avoid contributing to overfishing, choose seafood that is not overfished or caught using sustainable fishing methods. The MSC has a list of seafood that is certified as sustainable, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program offers a guide to help consumers make responsible choices.

Fishing Practices

Fishing practices can also have a significant impact on the environment. Destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling, which involves dragging nets along the ocean floor, can damage seafloor habitats and harm non-target species. Bycatch, which is the unintentional capture of non-target species, is another issue associated with fishing practices. To choose seafood that is sustainably sourced, look for products that have been caught using methods that minimize harm to the environment and non-target species.

In addition to choosing sustainably sourced seafood, there are other steps you can take to reduce the environmental impact of your seafood consumption. Consider reducing your overall seafood consumption, choosing alternative protein sources like plant-based proteins, and avoiding single-use plastics when purchasing and consuming seafood.

By making responsible choices, we can help protect the health of our oceans and ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy seafood as a delicious and nutritious source of protein. Aussie Meat offers ocean-catch seafood delivery in Hong Kong, including barramundi fillet.


Aussie Meat
Aussie Meat

Author

Aussie Meat is The Australian Meat Brand. We deliver Michelin Star-quality Meat, Ocean-catch Seafood, Wine and BBQ Grills across Hong Kong, 5 days per week. Owned and operated by Australians, we deliver finest quality meat which is grass fed, organic, naturally farmed, hormone and antibiotic free meat and ocean-catch seafood from Australian, New Zealand and global farmers jet fresh to your home or office. We understand the value in giving back, our Eat For Charity Program #eat4charityhk donates 5% of our profits towards HK charities.