| Any time that farming is involved in growing or | | | | Watch Program. |
| harvesting food for human consumption, there are | | | | Another concern that fishing raises is that of |
| environmental consequences that impact all of us. | | | | overfishing. Overfishing happens when certain species |
| Although not farming in the typical sense, fishing and | | | | of fish are captured faster than they can reproduce, |
| seafood harvesting is no exception. While some | | | | meaning their population numbers continually dwindle. |
| methods are more sustainable than others (just like in | | | | Species like the Atlantic Cod, West Coast Rockfish, |
| conventional farming), no type of seafood "farming" is | | | | Bluefin Tuna, and certain types of sharks have all |
| 100% sustainable and none come without harm to our | | | | suffered from overfishing in the past. There are also |
| planet. | | | | certain species of fish, such as the Chilean Seabass, |
| There are, of course, the obvious negatives - things | | | | that reproduce at a much slower rate than others, so |
| like waste and chemicals that accumulate in | | | | overfishing is a very real possibility that must be |
| waterways from boats, fishermen, and so on. Beyond | | | | monitored. As a consumer, you can voice your opinion |
| that, there is as significant amount of destruction that | | | | and help preserve their populations by not purchasing |
| happened to natural habitats that sea animals live in | | | | these kinds of fish. |
| which creates significant threats to their ability to | | | | There is also the issue of farming fish, which is exactly |
| sustain life. As such, it is imperative that we, as | | | | what it sounds like - raising shellfish to be consumed |
| consumers, do all we can to support those practices | | | | by humans. Farming that involves shellfish like oysters, |
| that are more sustainable but voting with our wallets. | | | | mussels, and clams has a much milder environmental |
| Although not as commonly talked about, this practice is | | | | impact than things like shrimp and salmon. For example, |
| equally as important as doing something like shopping | | | | when fish like salmon are raised at unnaturally high |
| with reusable shopping bags to help keep plastic bags | | | | rates in cages that are placed in the ocean, the |
| out of our waterways and using milder household | | | | amount of waste that they produce can have a |
| cleaners. | | | | negative impact on the surrounding natural populations. |
| One of the primary environmental threats posed by | | | | A more sustainable and environmentally friendly option |
| the fishing industry is the impact that it has on the | | | | is to do fish farming is separate tanks that continually |
| populations and habitats in the areas that they operate. | | | | recycle water, which are known as recirculating |
| Fishermen that use large nets or cages to catch high | | | | aquaculture systems. |
| volumes of food not only disturb the natural | | | | For more information about sustainable fishing and |
| environment but also are known for catching a lot of | | | | seafood farming practices, check out the Seafood |
| by-catch - those animals that get trapped that are not | | | | Watch program that is run by the Monterrey Bay |
| on the list of things to catch. The majority of this | | | | Aquarium. Twice a year, they update their Seafood |
| by-catch ends up dying (the Monterrey Bay Aquarium | | | | Guide, which evaluated seafood farming and fishing |
| Seafood Watch Program estimates that one out of | | | | practices based on their environmental impact and |
| ever four animals caught is fishing gear dies as | | | | possible health threats. They sort seafood in to three |
| by-catch). By-catch is not limited to fish. | | | | categories: Best Choice, Good Alternative, and Avoid |
| Often, larger animals like dolphin, sea turtles, and seals | | | | based on their data and analysis. They help people |
| get caught, unintentionally, and end up dying as a result. | | | | identify seafood that can be enjoyed with a good |
| The alternative method of targeting specific species of | | | | conscious - things that are not vulnerable to overfishing |
| animals for fishing, using harpoons, hooks and lines, and | | | | and are not caught in ways that threaten habitats or |
| so on are more environmentally friendly and do not | | | | result in by-catch. |
| result in nearly as much ecological damage or | | | | They also recommend seafood that is farmed in |
| by-catch. Unfortunately, these methods are also not | | | | environmentally friendly ways, such as using the |
| the kind of thing that can be done on a large enough | | | | recirculating aquaculture systems mentioned above. In |
| scale to meet our growing demand for seafood. | | | | addition to limiting what we put in to the ocean by using |
| However, consumers can voice their opinions with their | | | | eco-friendly cleaners and shopping with reusable bags, |
| wallets by supporting environmentally fishing practices | | | | we also need to be aware of what we take out of |
| by shopping for sustainably fished seafood, which can | | | | the ocean. The guide provided by the Seafood Watch |
| be identified using the guide provided by the Seafood | | | | Program goes a long way in doing so. |