Saving Seafood

ASMFC Releases 2020 Annual Report

April 16, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is pleased to present you with our 2020 Annual Report, http://www.asmfc.org/files/pub/2020AnnualReport_web.pdf.  In the report, you will find a quick guide to stock status for the 27 species and species groups the Commission manages; a fisheries management section, which focuses on species which had the most significant management or stock assessment activities in 2020; and sections highlighting our major accomplishments in 2020 in the areas of fisheries science, habitat conservation, and fishery-dependent data collection and management. Please visit the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org for additional information on any of our programs or activities.

The report reflects our Commissioners’ commitment to accountability and transparency in all they do to sustainably manage the stocks under their care. We hope that you will find the information contained within this report useful and interesting.

Whole Foods Market launches new responsible sourcing program

April 8, 2021 — Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market has launched its Sourced for Good program, an exclusive third-party certification program to support responsible sourcing of foods, including seafood.

The certification program includes making tangible improvements in farmworkers’ lives, strengthening worker communities where products are sourced, and promoting environmental stewardship where crops are grown, the retailer said in a press release.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

ISSF tuna stock status report shows increase in catch, little change in sustainability

April 5, 2021 — The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation’s (ISSF) “Status of the Stocks” report covering the status of the world’s tuna fisheries has found that most catch continues to be sourced from stocks at “healthy” levels of abundance.

The twice-yearly report by the ISSF – a cooperative program involving scientists, the tuna industry, and the World Wildlife Fund – breaks down the status of the world’s tuna stocks. The latest report represents the second since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic first started impacting the work of regional fishery management organizations (RFMOs).

Read the full story at Seafood Source

International study shows alternative seafood networks provided resiliency during pandemic

April 1, 2021 — Local alternative seafood networks (ASNs) in the United States and Canada, often considered niche segments, experienced unprecedented growth in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic while the broader seafood system faltered, highlighting the need for greater functional diversity in supply chains, according to a new international study led by the University of Maine.

The spike in demand reflected a temporary relocalization phenomenon that can occur during periods of systemic shock—an inverse yet complementary relationship between global and local seafood systems that contributes to the resilience of regional food systems, according to the research team, which published its findings in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.

The globalization of seafood has made food systems more vulnerable to systemic shocks, which can impact those dependent on seafood for sustenance and employment, according to the research team, led by Joshua Stoll, assistant professor of marine policy at the University of Maine.

Policy changes and greater investments in data collection and infrastructure are needed to support ASN development, increase functional diversity in supply chains, and bolster the resilience and sustainability of regional food systems and the global seafood trade, according to the researchers.

Read the full story at PHYS.org

5 Things You Should Know About Sustainable Seafood

March 31, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

In the United States, sustainable seafood is not only a possibility, it’s our priority. Fish, shellfish, and marine algae are renewable resources—they can reproduce and replenish their populations naturally. That means we can sustainably harvest fish within certain limits without depleting their populations. Fishery management is the process of using science to determine these limits—catching some fish while leaving some to reproduce and replace the fish that are caught. The United States is a global leader in seafood sustainability.

Our global population is rising, but our global abundance of wild fish is not. Aquaculture, or farming in water, plays a critical role in ensuring that our need for seafood is met sustainably. It is a resource-efficient way of increasing and diversifying U.S. seafood production. The future of sustainable seafood must include both farm-raised and wild-capture seafood. Seafood farming, if done responsibly as it is in the United States, is increasingly recognized as one of the most environmentally sustainable ways to produce food and protein.

Read on to learn more about what sustainable seafood means in the United States and how we are working to support healthy fisheries and provide safe sources of seafood.

1. U.S. fishermen abide by some of the most rigorous environmental measures in the world.

The United States has a well-earned reputation as a global leader in sustainability. U.S. fisheries management is guided by several laws, including the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Endangered Species Act.

Learn more about the laws and policies that keep our ocean resources productive and sustainable

2. U.S. fisheries are managed under 10 national standards of sustainability.

These standards aim to prevent overfishing, protect other species and habitat, and minimize bycatch on non-target species. They ensure sustainable and responsible fishery management in the United States.

Learn more about the National Standards

3. Managing wild fish populations sustainably and keeping fishermen on the job is a dynamic process.

U.S. fisheries management is a transparent and robust process, based on strong science, responsive management, and enforced compliance. NOAA Fisheries works closely with eight regional fishery management councils, whose members represent commercial and recreational fishing, environmental, academic, and government interests.

Learn more about how we manage fisheries in the United States

4. Expanding aquaculture can stabilize and diversify seafood supply.

Aquaculture is a sustainable way to produce food, using fewer resources than other protein sources. This is especially important when considering the impacts of climate change on land-based farming and wild-capture fisheries.

Learn more about how aquaculture supports a sustainable Earth

5. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing leads to unsafe and unsustainable practices and harms law-abiding fishermen around the world.

Combating IUU fishing is a top priority for the United States. NOAA Fisheries is proud to be a leader in the nation’s comprehensive approach to this battle. We work with U.S. and state agencies to promote compliance with import requirements that help prevent IUU fish and fish products from entering our markets. We also work with foreign governments and regional fisheries management organizations to promote international cooperation to achieve effective, responsible marine stewardship and ensure sustainable fisheries management.​

Learn more about how NOAA is working to combat illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing globally

Sustainable seafood is a continuous journey and science is a big part of our success. Effective management for both wild-caught and farmed species starts with accurate scientific information about fish and fisheries. Be sure to visit our site regularly to learn even more about how we support safe sources of seafood by ensuring our fisheries are productive and sustainable.

Oceana Issues Statement On Netflix’s ‘Seaspiracy’ Documentary

March 29, 2021 — As compelling as Netflix’s new “Seaspiracy” documentary is, the issues raised in it regarding commercial fishing aren’t quite that cut-and-dried, according to the folks at Oceana.

The ocean advocacy organization issued a statement when the film was released on March 24th. It reads:

“Today, Netflix released a new movie titled Seaspiracy that features passing references to Oceana and a brief excerpt from what was a two-hour interview with a former employee, who was one of Oceana’s key leaders in winning policy victories against illegal fishing.

“To set the record straight, what Oceana campaigns for and focuses on is increasing ocean abundance through policy victories that put in place science-based fisheries management in national waters, where most of the world’s fish are caught. We are already campaigning in countries that account for 28% of the world’s catch. The science is clear: This country-by-country approach can help the oceans rebound dramatically and feed a billion people a healthy seafood meal each day. We can save the oceans and feed the world.

“We believe people have the right to choose what they eat, and we applaud those who make personal choices to improve the health of our planet. However, choosing to abstain from consuming seafood is not a realistic choice for the hundreds of millions of people around the world who depend on coastal fisheries – many of whom are also facing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. Oceana campaigns to save the oceans for both the people who depend on them and to protect the marine animals (and other forms of life) who live in them.

Read the full story at Deeper Blue

Global Tuna Alliance, others introduce 2025 Pledge towards Sustainable Tuna

March 22, 2021 — The Global Tuna Alliance, Friends of Ocean Action, and the World Economic Forum have introduced the 2025 Pledge towards Sustainable Tuna (25PST), a new global commitment supporting responsible global tuna fisheries management and harvesting.

The three organizations are inviting businesses throughout the tuna supply chain, governments, and civil society organizations committed to sustainable tuna to sign onto the pledge, which calls for signatories to commit to working towards a global tuna sector that meets the highest standards of environmental performance and social responsibility through demonstrable improvements in supply chain practices and fisheries management.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

MSC aims to increase activity and drive sustainable fishing in Mexico

February 25, 2021 — The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) plans to increase its presence and activities in Mexico, rolling out a strategic plan for the creation of a community of producers and commercial partners, while also implementing a communications campaign on the importance of sustainable fishing and the benefits of getting certified.

To increase environmental stewardship in Mexico’s fishing industry, MSC will work with key industry players to drive its chain of custody certification and its eco-labeling program of certified products in stores, which allows consumers to recognize fisheries that use resources rationally with a minimized impact on the ecosystem. and reward those fisheries with their purchases.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

MSC Launches Commercial Strategy for Mexico

February 19, 2021 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council:

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an independent international non-profit organization that helps protect the oceans around the world, announced that it will increase its presence and activities in Mexico to empower the fishing industry. It will do so with key players of the industry and based on its chain of custody certification along with their “eco-labeling” program of certified products in stores, to help protect the environment and ensure seafood for the current and future generations of the country.

The MSC has shown with success stories around the world that the dilemma between caring for the environment and promoting business development is false. What you have to do is fish in another way. Make a sustainable, certified fishing and bet on a green economic recovery. The value proposition of the organization that makes the above possible consists of aligning the interests of the industry with the care of the environment through a system of certification of good practices and an “eco-label”. This scheme allows the consumer to recognize and reward with their purchase decision those fisheries that make a rational use of fishery resources and that minimize their impact on the ecosystem. Currently 15% of world catches have benefited from the association’s certifications.

Read the full release here