Tips On Buying American Seafood
When the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded on April 20th, 2010, it made Americans realize how easy it is to take for granted our food sources.
Despite intense scrutiny of by news media, the demand for American seafood did not plummet. Instead, demand outpaced supply, forcing prices to go up as fishing expeditions were put on hold. The Gulf spill also caused increased imports of seafood.
According to a 2003 estimate, the international seafood trade was worth over sixty billion dollars and involved more than two hundred countries worldwide. This active trade puts a strain on wild fish populations. To ease pressure on wild fisheries, fish farms produce fish and other seafood which ultimately ends up on our dinner table.
Of course, it can be difficult to choose between wild-caught and farm-raised seafood. Some farm-raised food may not be as nutritious or flavorful as its wild counterparts. On the other hand, some forms of farmed seafood are in many ways superior to their wild counterparts.
Popular farmed fish and shellfish produced in the USA include catfish,
mussels, oysters and quahog
clams.
These are tips for choosing seafood:
- Buy local. Besides helping the local economy, buying local will help insure that fish is fresh. Also, the fish will not have traveled as far as imported fish, which means less fossil fuels have been burned.
- Ask questions and read labels. Where did the fish come from? Is it wild-caught? Is the seafood from a sustainable fishery? Knowing the country of origin is also important when purchasing seafood. If seafood offers no hint of where it originated, it may be wise to pass on it.
- Ask your restaurant owner to offer sustainable and locally sourced seafood. Questions from savvy diners will send a message to chefs and management about consumer preferences.
- Try new kinds of fish and seafood. You may find a new favorite. Many fish markets and other stores have begun carrying non-traditional fish and seafood, many of which are delicious and healthy. When available, mackerel, herring, and pacific sardines are excellent choices with good amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Support sustainable fishing. Sustainable fishing insures that there will be future supplies of fish to meet demand. This is good for people whose livelihood depends on fish and good for eco-systems.
- Learn more about seafood and aquaculture, including issues concerning health, nutrition, sustainability, locally sourced products and how to safely handle and cook seafood.
- Encourage political leaders to set reasonable fishing quotas and other standards. Such measures will allow fish populations to recover from disasters like the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and also maintain numbers for future fishing.
While these habits may seem time consuming, the results are worth it. Seafood is known for its wonderful flavor, health benefits and popularity as a meal choice.
Despite intense scrutiny of by news media, the demand for American seafood did not plummet. Instead, demand outpaced supply, forcing prices to go up as fishing expeditions were put on hold. The Gulf spill also caused increased imports of seafood.
According to a 2003 estimate, the international seafood trade was worth over sixty billion dollars and involved more than two hundred countries worldwide. This active trade puts a strain on wild fish populations. To ease pressure on wild fisheries, fish farms produce fish and other seafood which ultimately ends up on our dinner table.
Of course, it can be difficult to choose between wild-caught and farm-raised seafood. Some farm-raised food may not be as nutritious or flavorful as its wild counterparts. On the other hand, some forms of farmed seafood are in many ways superior to their wild counterparts.
Popular farmed fish and shellfish produced in the USA include catfish,
mussels, oysters and quahog
clams.
These are tips for choosing seafood:
- Buy local. Besides helping the local economy, buying local will help insure that fish is fresh. Also, the fish will not have traveled as far as imported fish, which means less fossil fuels have been burned.
- Ask questions and read labels. Where did the fish come from? Is it wild-caught? Is the seafood from a sustainable fishery? Knowing the country of origin is also important when purchasing seafood. If seafood offers no hint of where it originated, it may be wise to pass on it.
- Ask your restaurant owner to offer sustainable and locally sourced seafood. Questions from savvy diners will send a message to chefs and management about consumer preferences.
- Try new kinds of fish and seafood. You may find a new favorite. Many fish markets and other stores have begun carrying non-traditional fish and seafood, many of which are delicious and healthy. When available, mackerel, herring, and pacific sardines are excellent choices with good amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Support sustainable fishing. Sustainable fishing insures that there will be future supplies of fish to meet demand. This is good for people whose livelihood depends on fish and good for eco-systems.
- Learn more about seafood and aquaculture, including issues concerning health, nutrition, sustainability, locally sourced products and how to safely handle and cook seafood.
- Encourage political leaders to set reasonable fishing quotas and other standards. Such measures will allow fish populations to recover from disasters like the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and also maintain numbers for future fishing.
While these habits may seem time consuming, the results are worth it. Seafood is known for its wonderful flavor, health benefits and popularity as a meal choice.
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