The way we harvest and consume fish affects the health of ocean ecosystems. The best way to ensure the sustainability of this resource is responsible management, fishing, and farming. In a world where the human population is rapidly growing, seafood is essential to combatting food scarcity. Some fish populations are feeling the pressure from our dependence on seafood, and climate change and human development are adding to that stress.

However, not all fishing practices are exemplary, and there is a limit to how much we can take from the ocean. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, about 79 percent of seafood is sustainable. When compared to many land-based sources of food, responsibly managed seafood is a sustainable source of food with minimal environmental impact. Fishing can either be sustainable, where the number of fish taken from a population is at a rate that allows the stock to repopulate, or it can be unsustainable, where fishing removes more fish than can regrow. Many people rely on seafood as a way to make a living, as fishers or fish farmers.Įnsuring the oceans continue to thrive while also feeding the world’s people requires an understanding of how many fish are harvested. Seafood is for everyone-whether it’s a high-end meal, or a daily staple.

Shellfish cracked open reveals tender bites of meat, and squid arms make for an enticing meal. We enjoy fish fillets baked, battered, and stuffed, wrapped in rice and seaweed, and skewered kabob style. Humans across the globe rely on the ocean as a main source of food.

Gearing for alaska fishing planet