Can Eating Fish Ever Be Sustainable?
Fish have traditionally been an integral part of the human diet, and they remain so in many cultures today. Unfortunately, in recent years, we’ve begun to use so many fish as feed for livestock that scientists are predicting we will soon see large-scale shortages of certain types of fish on the market. Is this a problem that can be solved by simply changing our eating habits, or are we really on the verge of running out of fish entirely? This article explores whether or not eating fish can ever be sustainable in today’s market.
The United Nations
So, is there any hope for sustainable fishing? The good news is that there are some organizations and companies working towards more sustainable practices. Some fish can now be farmed in a closed system with no escape from the farm, which eliminates their need to be caught in the wild. Others use fish feed made from smaller, non-predatory species like krill or sardines instead of from larger predatory fish like tuna or swordfish which are hard to come by (overfished). There is also a big push among chefs to serve only line-caught varieties of fish and not just deep sea catch; this way the fishermen have less impact on the environment because they don't have to trawl miles of ocean floor dragging up everything in their path. And finally, you can find seafood guides online that provide information about sustainability issues with each type of seafood they sell.
What is overfishing
Overfishing is the act of catching fish at a rate that the fish population cannot replenish itself. This often happens when fishing boats use large nets that scoop up everything in their path, including juvenile fish, other marine animals, and even trash. As a result, not only are there fewer fish to catch, but the overall health of the ocean suffers. This can lead to big problems for coastal communities that rely on fishing for their livelihoods.
How Much We Eat
On average, Americans eat about 15 pounds of fish and shellfish per person each year. That’s a lot of fish! And it’s not just the United States. Globally, we eat about twice that amount. If you extrapolate these numbers out to 2050, when the population is expected to be 10 billion people, this means the demand for seafood will need to increase by 20%. To put this in perspective: global fishing production has been able to grow at 2% annually since 1980. So how can this ever be sustainable?
Why Is It So Hard to Catch Fish Humanely?
It's no secret that the seafood industry has some major sustainability issues. One of the biggest problems is that it's very difficult to catch fish humanely. Many commercial fishing methods are extremely inhumane, often resulting in the slow and painful death of fish. Some of the most common methods, such as trawling and longlining, can cause a great deal of suffering. Additionally, many fish are caught as bycatch, which means they're not the target species and are often discarded, dead or alive.
What Can We Do About Overfishing?
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the amount of fish caught each year has more than quadrupled since 1950. But as our appetite for fish increases, so does the pressure on fish stocks. Today, about one-third of global fish stocks are overfished, and another 60% are fished at their maximum sustainable level.