Whether you’re partial to some prawns, on the hunt for haddock or fancy a fresh flounder, sustainable seafood is hard to find.
Since documentaries like Seaspiracy brought these issues to the forefront, people have been more conscious about where there seafood comes from. But is there actually a way to source sustainable seafood?
The first problem most people have is buying blind. The first step to sourcing seafood sustainably is doing your research and understanding which sources are reliable.
Direct from the fishmonger
This one might seem like an obvious one but buying directly from the fish market is a great way to understand more about the type of seafood you’re about to buy. The markets know exactly where they source their seafood and the quality of seafood is generally better because they pride themselves on their quality.
Buying fresh also cuts out the distribution and manufacturing processes that supermarket seafood goes through to end up in your basket. This reduces your carbon footprint associated with long distance transport and plastic packaging. Remember, Fishmonger’s are human beings that prioritize their business image and quality, offering a variety of sustainably sourced options.
Certified Sustainable Seafood
If you don’t live near a market then getting to a fishmongers could be a real hassle. What if there was an easier way to tell if your fish is sustainable? Oh, there is? The Marine Stewardship Council are responsible for keeping a close eye on seafood supplies to protect them for the future. Their job is to recognise sustainable fishing efforts and reward the products with a nice blue label to certify sustainability.
Buying from an online sustainable seafood retailer
Given the growing concern about fishing sustainability there are now several UK Wide online retailers that exclusively sell wild, sustainable seafood products. With delivery fees included this is definitely not the cheapest option. However, they give everybody the chance to access the sustainable food market regardless of location.
Should I avoid particular types of fish?
The answer to this question is definitely yes. You can keep an eye on fishing trends using MSC’s Good Fish Guide. The Sustainable Food Trust have also suggested to buy more unusual types of Seafood and Fish and avoiding ‘the big five’ to allow their stocks to recover. The big five include cod, salmon, haddock, tuna and prawns. While fish like the Arctic Char and Seafood like Abalone score high for sustainability and are currently good choices.
Try Vegan Fish Products?
If none of the above options seem viable to you, turning to a newly developed vegan product could be the answer to get your ‘seafood’ fix.
Seabloom foods are one of the businesses pioneering this vegan fish movement with their ‘vegan tuna’ product. They aim to give customers a similar nutritional profile to eating fish in plant based form through blending plant protein with Scottish Seaweed.
Seabloom CEO, Greta Desforges-Hodgson recalls the moment she was inspired to create vegan fish products: “I was on a trip in South Africa with marine biologists on a whale watching tour, I saw the detrimental effects that fishing vessels are having on our ocean first hand. I realised the seafood industry is not sustainable for ocean wildlife. On the same trip I was shown an abundance of kelp growing under the water.”
So, should we still eat seafood?
It’s a complex question that nobody but yourself can answer. Whether or not you are willing to give up fish all together or you still want fish in your diet, we can all agree the statistics do not look promising.
Evidence suggests fish stocks all over the globe are on the brink of being completely unsustainable. We need to start prioritising sustainability and collectively work together to ensure the availability of seafood remains stable for ourselves and the next generations to come.