Aquaculture, or farming of fish and other seafood, holds great promise as a solution to the increasing pressures on our ocean resources.
A Growing Practice
Fish farming has been practiced, in some parts of the world, for hundreds of years. Today, half of the seafood eaten in the U.S. is farmed. To help meet the growing global demand for seafood, aquaculture is growing fast.
The environmental impact of fish farming varies widely, depending on the species being farmed, the methods used and where the farm is located. When good practices are used, it's possible to farm seafood in a way that has very little impact to the environment. Such operations limit habitat damage, disease, escapes of farmed fish and the use of wild fish as feed.
What You Can Do
The Seafood Watch app for Android and iPhone brings you up-to-date recommendations for ocean-friendly seafood and sushi.
By asking this simple but important question at your grocery store or restaurant, you can help shape the demand for, and ultimately supply of, fish that's been caught or farmed in environmentally responsible ways. Consumers play an important role in shaping ocean health, so start making a difference today!