Saving our oceans and our planet is not only a focus for the UK, but for the whole world. Making changes to our daily lives so we start to travel responsibly, eat sustainably, and reduce waste, are key areas where we can make changes that will have the biggest impact.
Overfishing is something that exists and is something organisations are trying to stop happening all together. Fishing itself is the biggest threat to our oceans at the moment, so buying fish that has been sustainably caught is crucial.
Is fishing sustainable?
A lot of people ask if sustainable fishing is even a thing, and it is. Sustainable fishing is making sure we are leaving enough fish in the ocean so their population can remain productive and ensuring the protection of both the sea life’s habitats and threatened species is kept.
How do we know if our seafood is sustainably caught?
The seafood you can buy in supermarkets will be clearly labelled if it has been caught sustainably. Organisations such as the Marine Stewardship Council vet fisheries to ensure they are following the sustainable fishing standards. If they are, their produce will have a blue MSC ecolabel on the packaging. Only certified fisheries will be able to use this logo on packaging.
Buying and consuming sustainable seafood is a step we can all take to save our oceans. MSC have collaborated with numerous chefs worldwide to create an ocean cookbook full of delicious seafood recipes. This cookbook not only give us meal inspiration but helps saves our oceans at the same time.
So how can we save our oceans?
There are multiple ways we can save our Oceans. Below are just few ways we can begin to make sustainable changes.
- Fish sustainably
- Consume seafood that contains a certified label
- Keep plastics away from beaches
- Eat lower in the food chain
- Diversify the seafood you consume
To find out more about sustainable fishing or what MSC are going to save our oceans, visit https://www.msc.org/uk