Sustainable fish consumption. What makes it so important.

Sustainable fish consumption means that its consumption does not have a negative impact on the ecosystem. The habitat of fish includes freshwater and seawater. Both of these ecosystems can be endangered by fishery.

You’ll find out about the things to consider when consuming fish products and how sustainability plays a role in it here.

Why is sustainable fish important to our health?

No harmful chemicals or antibiotics

Sustainable fish farming means not using unnecessary antibiotics or similar chemicals. Eating animals that have been fed antibiotics leads to resistance. In addition, antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria, which has a negative effect on our microbiome. The use of chemicals in unsustainable fish farming includes artificial feeds with growth promoters, which, like antibiotics, also have a negative impact on health.

Difference in quality

Sustainable fisheries use shorter transportation routes. This means the fish can be eaten fresher, unless it is frozen freshly caught. Gentle processing and shorter transport distances mean that the fish retains more nutrients. The same is true for fruits and vegetables. In the case of sustainable fish, it can also be assumed that they live or were caught in good natural conditions and that no artificial fattening methods were used to produce them. This also has a positive effect on their exposure to heavy metals. Overfished and polluted waters often result in higher levels of heavy metals in meat. These include mercury and lead.

Nutrient content

However, sustainable fish and better quality fish have higher levels of good omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are considered to be anti-inflammatory, whereas poor quality fish and the use of poor quality feed increase the levels of bad omega-6 fatty acids. Bad omega-6 fatty acids, in turn, cause inflammation in the body and lead to far-reaching problems. Good quality fish with good fats has a particularly positive effect on the cardiovascular system and the brain. This reduces the risk of heart attack or even stroke.

Certifications provide information on whether certain framework conditions are being complied with. There are therefore also various certifications for consumable fish. These can usually be seen on the packaging in the supermarket and are thus easy to identify if you are aware of what to look out for. This is the easiest way to find out whether fish products are sustainable.

I will now introduce you to two of these certifications:

MSC

MSC is probably the most well-known organization for more sustainable fishing. The organization with the small blue fish logo stands for “Marine Stewardship Council” (MSC). Its purpose is to help to protect the oceans and conserve their fish stocks.

Products that meet the MSC certificate must fulfill various requirements:

No overfishing

Overfishing means that more fish are removed from the sea than can grow back. At a certain point, the overfished fish species would no longer be present in certain areas or even become extinct. Overfishing must also be avoided for future fish stocks in the sea.

Minimize bycatch

Fishing involves catching species of fish or other animals that should not be caught. This cannot be completely avoided, but it can be limited. One problem is the potential endangerment of fish species.

Protection of the seabed

Fishing with trawls is a particular threat to the marine ecosystem. These nets reach down to the seafloor and are dragged across it to catch the fish. This destroys the habitat of marine life. You can usually see on the back of the packaging whether or not the fish was caught using bottom trawls.

Sustainable practices

This includes, among other things, the management of fisheries. Fish stocks fluctuate from year to year. Sustainable fishing must take these fluctuations into account in order to conserve available resources.

You can find more information about the MSC on their website.

https://www.msc.org/

ASC

Recognized by its turquoise seal, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) sets standards for fish and seafood aquaculture, providing information on whether a farm is operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. The entire supply chain is taken into account. This begins with the production of feed for fish and seafood farming and ends on the supermarket shelf. The organization's standards are based on years of collaboration with suppliers, producers and scientists around the world.

The ASC has several standards. They are grouped by species in order to define the optimal standards for sustainable aquaculture. Some of the groups include

• Mussels

• Trout

• Salmon

• Tilapia

• Algae

These species are categorized according to their importance for sustainability due to their numerous farming activities. In summary, the ASC standards focus on two main issues:

• Environmental aspects

  The impact on the environment must be actively minimized

• Social aspects

  Responsible operation of the business

Why is there a Feed Standard?

Marine ingredients in fish farming are limited to a small percentage. About three quarters of the feed comes from agriculture. This means that much of the feed for farmed fish comes includes:

• Rice

• Wheat

• Soy

These agricultural products themselves have an impact on the environment and therefore need to be considered as part of the chain. This is because the production of these foods often involves deforestation or land conversion, which disturbs the ecosystem. The overall situation can be improved by increasing the transparency of farms. The ASC monitors feed producers to raise awareness of the problem. Feed must come from responsible sources with sustainable production to ensure sustainable fish farming.

For more information about ASC, visit their website.

https://asc-aqua.org/

Find out more

What local sustainable fishing businesses are in my area? This can be a first step in supporting local businesses and eating fish sustainably. By making informed choices, you are choosing high-quality, sustainably caught seafood. Consuming in moderation also means reducing the pressure on fisheries.

Sustainable fish farming means environmentally friendly farming without the unnecessary use of medical products such as antibiotics. Trout farming generally has a low environmental footprint and is often farmed in sustainable facilities.

However, the farming of some species is associated with the destruction of mangroves, for example, and the contamination of waterways with antibiotics and chemicals. This is because fish from such farms are raised in poor conditions and require antibiotics to protect them from disease.

Eat a variety of fish

Demand for popular fish such as salmon or tuna often leads to overfishing. Other less popular fish, such as sardines or herring, are often more sustainable.

Other overfished species include:

• Eel

• Swordfish

Diversifying your fish consumption can add variety to your diet and help you take a step towards sustainability.