A practical guide to a more sustainable seafood industry

What is it about?

Fishing is a source of income for the fishermen and industries involved. It provides food to the consumer. But activities like overfishing are damaging Earth's ocean and marine life. They show how our actions are driven by our needs. Here the action of overfishing is driven by the unmet needs for income, in case of the producer and the need for food in case of the consumer. The question to ask ourselves is if there is a way we can procure seafood while protecting our oceans at the same time. The answer is sustainability. In the early 1900s, people realized how uncontrolled fishing was damaging the oceans. It led to a sustainable seafood movement to educate the consumers about their inherent power to make a change.

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Photo by Mike Bergmann on Unsplash

Photo by Mike Bergmann on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This chapter is part of the book "The Ocean and Us," which explores why humans must protect Earth’s oceans. The chapter focuses on using sustainable approaches to source seafood. It opens our eyes to the different solutions available for us to use against overfishing. It suggests that better awareness, government schemes, and sustainable business practices can bring about a change at the producer's as well as the consumer's end. The chapter also talks about the changes that are already showing promising results. It gives us a peep into what can else be done in the future and ends with practical suggestions and resources to get involved as seafood consumers. KEY TAKEAWAY: The key to any change is awareness. With awareness, we can join hands to consume seafood sustainably. This research relates to the following Sustainable Development Goals: • SDG 14: Life Below Water • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production • SDG 2: Zero Hunger