What Exactly Do Sustainable Labels Mean on Seafood?

Today, many consumers are very 'label conscious.' Instead of simply
grabbing whatever product happens to be the first they see on the
shelf, many are taking the time and making an effort to really get to
know the products they are using and buying. From organic food to
'green' dry cleaning, once a person really stops for a moment and pays
attention to the impact on the Earth of even the most mundane
activities, it's a good enough reason to start looking for
environmentally conscious products.One such example is sustainable
seafood, but exactly what is sustainable seafood? In order to be
labeled as sustainable, a seafood source must maintain or increase the
population of the seafood species, and must not negatively impact
ecosystems where the seafood species is harvested, amongst other
tenets. This sounds great on a label and is of course a great
start.Overfishing and fishing methods that destroy natural ecosystems
are both fast ways to extinction of not only seafood species'
populations, but the fishing industry. However, sustainable seafood
labels can be deceiving. Just because a seafood species is labeled
sustainable, does not mean it was harvested in the wild. Some are
fished, but others are farmed. Generally, farmed species, while
thriving in numbers, are compromised in other ways. Full of
antibiotics and hormones, and with lesser quality when it comes to
color, taste and texture, farm raised sustainable seafood can give the
entire concept a bad rap.It's important, then, to know not only on
paper "what is sustainable seafood," but where the best, fresh and
wild sustainable seafood comes from. For a safe bet, and one that is
available in many parts of the world, the true seafood lover will head
straight to products from the icy cold waters of Alaska. While there
are many regulatory government organizations today that are busy in
the 'labeling' department, the Alaskan government has been living a
policy of sustainability when it comes to seafood species.A model on
the international stage for how to manage resources that might be
finite without regulation and intervention, the policies set into
motion within the 1959 Alaska State Constitution have been incredibly
effective. Now, in a modern world, there are organizations like the
Marine Stewardship Council, Friend of the Sea, the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration's FishWatch, and legislation like the
Endangered Species Act and the Sustainable Fisheries Act to help out.
While these organizations work to bring the knowledge of what is
sustainable seafood to consumers, Alaska is busy proving itself time
and time again with effective management practices and great quality
products.In the fight to make clean, sustainable and renewable
resources a priority in the minds of consumers, many have jumped on
board the sustainable seafood movement. Popular top seafood
restaurants and top chefs like those in the Seafood Choices Alliance
have used their names and fame to promote sustainable seafood by
featuring it on their menus and promoting public and peer education.
In stores, products are clearly labeled as sustainable. To not only
find more answers as to what is sustainable seafood exactly, but to
purchase food for overnight delivery, seafood lovers can now go
online! With a little bit of effort, sustainable seafood can be a
staple of your diet too!