Source: BibliOdyssey

From menus to pet food, seafood counters to vitamin pills, and even in cosmetic products—seafood can be found everywhere but our oceans.

“Worldwide, 80 per cent of the fish stock has been fished at the limit, over the limit, or is already depleted,” says Steven Price of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). “Less than one per cent of our oceans are protected from industrial activity, including fishing.”

With 16 to 20 per cent of the world’s coastline in Canada, Canadian fisheries, businesses, and consumers are responsible for ensuring sustainable seafood is the most viable option.

Increasing pressure from groups such as Greenpeace has prompted retailers to work collaboratively with suppliers and conservation organizations to procure sustainably-harvested seafood. This means consumers can vote with their forks when dining out or purchasing seafood over the counter.

However, “there is also role for government,” says Rob Johnson of SeaChoice Canada, a marine conservation organization providing information to consumers about sustainable seafood in the Canadian market.

Under the Endangered Species Act in the United States, species such as sea turtles have harvesting quotas to ensure their conservation, but in Canada there is no such legislation. “If the law is not there, then you're depending on good corporate citizens to do the right thing and sometimes they just don't,” says Johnson. Without a broad, long-term view of the health of our oceans, many seafood items are at risk of becoming a short-term luxury.

Farmed fish or wild fish?

Farmed Fish
PRO: Farmed fish are raised under supervision either on land in tanks or in cornered-off sections of the ocean. This fishing method yields high fish populations without the risk of overharvesting and depleting wild species.
CON: High concentrations of fish can lead to the growth of disease and parasites that require antibiotics and pesticides. There is also risk of farmed fish escaping and mating with wild fish, further endangering native species.