SeaChoice is a national program that helps Canadian businesses and consumers make the most ocean-friensly seafood choices to support the long-term health of marine eosystems and costal communities. Working with five Canadian conservation organizations—Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, the David Suzuki Foundation, Ecology Action Center, Living Oceans Society and Sierra Club British Columbia – SeaChoice was formed to assist Canadians in taking an active role to support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.
This organization accesses the sustainability of domestic and imported seafood products , works to increase awareness about the role of seafood in achieving healthy oceans and help identify sources of sustainable seafood. Sustainability criteria, based on biological, ecological and management factors are used to rank seafood into their “Best Choice” list.
But what does sustainable seafood mean? Sustainable seafood is fish or shellfish caught or farmed in a manner that can be sustained over the long-term without compromising the health of marine ecosystems.
Environmentally sustainable wild fisheries are those that minimize habitat damage, have low levels of by-catch or discards of non-target specieis, are well managed and target healthy populations. Environmentally sustainable aquaculture minimizes the use of marine resources for feed, poses low risks to wild stocks through escapes or disease and parasite transfer, is well managed and creates little pollution or habitat impact. SeaChoice works to bring information to the consumer about sustainable seafood options of both wild and farmed seafood.
Here are some things to think about when purchasing wild seafood:
- Vulnerability of species due to fishing pressure – long living fish with low numbers of offspring are vulnerable to fishing pressure as they take longer than other specis to replenish their population.
- Abundance of the population – making sure removal rates are not higher than the population is capable of replacing. If so, the species is being overfished.
- Bycatch – when birds, sharks, turtles and other marine life that are not intended to be harvested are caught and discarded.
- Habitat Impact – how much damage is the fishing gear causing to the ocean environment and if the fishing method is causing harm to other marine life in the area.
- Effective management – means long-term health takes precidence over short term economic benefits.
Here are some things to think about when purchasing farmed seafood:
- Marine resources used in feed – farming certain species of fish and shellfish requires that other species are used in their feed. In some cases, more wild fish is used in feed than what is produces. Seafood raised on plant- based diets are better choices.
- Risk of escapes – when farmed fish escape, they can inter-breed with wild stocks or compete or food, spawning habitat and other resources.
- Disease and parasite transfer – aquaculture systems that discharge untreated waste may release disease and parasites to wild stocks.
- Risk of pollution – aquaculture systems can pollute the surrounding ecosystem, harming marine and freshwater habitats. Situating operations away from ecologically sensitive habitats is important.
- Effective management – ensuring the regulations and management structures neccessary to effectly control risks to ecosystems.
Some producers Nova Scotian Producers that Seachoice supports include ShanDalph Oysters, from producer Philip Docker’s operation in Pictou County. ShanDalph’s products are listed as a SeaChoice “Best Choice” option. Indian Point Marine Farms, famous for their delicious mussels also get’s SeaChoice’s stamp of approval. Alyssa’s Foods in Lower East Pubnico produces sustainabley caught groundfish such as haddock, pollock and hake. Alyssa’s is the first local processor to market a line of bottom hook -and-line fish product in Nova Scotia. The operation began regular delivery of the fish last year to Home Grown Organic Foods.
Purchasing changes that favour sustainable seafood help ensure there will be healthy, delicious seafood for years to come. SeaChoice is committed to developing working partnerships with companies as theyWhen determining which seafood to purchase – either at the grocery store or at a restaurant, you can refer to Canada’s Guide to Sustainable Seafood to make the right, responsible choice as a consumer.
Choosing sustainable seafood is a simple and effective action that you can take every time you eat at a restaurant or buy seafood at the grocery store. Three quetions you should always ask; what fish is this?; where and how was it farmed?
