Is it possible to be a seafood lover and be a good steward of the environment?
Definitely. In this article we’ll dive into the basics of sustainable fishing and aquaculture, and give you tips on shopping for ethically sourced seafood. To make sure that we got the facts right, we chatted with Gabby Petrelli, the resident expert on sustainable seafood sourcing at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
For Poke fans who want to ensure seafood can be enjoyed for generations to come.. read on!
OVERFISHING
Over one-third of the world’s assessed fisheries are overfished, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. This means that these ecosystems are being fished at a high rate to meet demands for human consumption and have been pushed beyond their biological limits to replace and maintain stable population levels.
Laws and regulations have created legal quotas and restrictions on age, size, and seasonal timing. This creates protections for fragile marine wildlife and allows fisheries to naturally replenish their populations. Some of the most effective laws prevent fisheries from catching juveniles. Despite these protections, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing still threatens many ecosystems around the world.