What to Look for on Seafood Labels: A Guide to Sustainable Certification

Many of us love seafood, and the global demand for it is only increasing. But with overfishing, climate change, and other environmental concerns, the industry faces challenges in sustaining production in a responsible manner. As a consumer, you can make informed choices about the seafood you purchase by looking for sustainability certification on seafood labels. Here’s what you need to know:

What is Sustainability Certification?

Sustainability certification is a way for fisheries, aquaculture operations, and seafood processors to demonstrate that their practices meet certain sustainability standards. Certification is typically done by independent third-party organizations, which evaluate the operation’s environmental, social, and economic impact, as well as its management practices.

Types of Sustainable Certification

There are several types of sustainable seafood certification programs that you might encounter on seafood labels:

• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) – One of the most recognized and respected certifications, the MSC evaluates wild-caught seafood operations against strict sustainability standards.
• Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) – The ASC evaluates farmed seafood against similar sustainability standards to the MSC.
• Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) – The BAP certification evaluates seafood processing and farming operations based on a variety of sustainability criteria.
• Friend of the Sea (FOS) – The FOS certification evaluates both wild-caught and farmed seafood operations against similar sustainability standards to the MSC.

What to Look for on Seafood Labels

If you’re trying to find sustainable seafood, look for labels that indicate that the seafood has been certified by one of the organizations above. Additionally, pay attention to:

• The Species – Some species of seafood are more sustainable than others, so do your research.
• The Origin – Different regions have different regulations and standards for seafood production.
• The Catch Method – Some catch methods (like bottom trawling) have a higher impact on the environment than others (like handline fishing).

Conclusion

Sustainability certification can help you make informed choices when it comes to purchasing seafood. By looking for certification labels and paying attention to the species, origin, and catch method, you can help support sustainable seafood practices.