Many people transitioning to a vegan diet often eat fish as they are excluding other livestock-based animal products. While information can be found easily on the ills of factory farming and industrialized livestock, proper education on fishing practices can be hard to find. In the US, fish consumption supplements widely available beef, poultry and pork as part of the normal diet. Elsewhere, notably SE Asia and Japan, fish is a staple in the local diet and consumed more often in larger quantities. Unfortunately, the importance of the ocean’s ecosystem to the rest of the world is often pared down by the media, focusing on whale catching and other salacious topics in the fishing industry. Did you know, however, that 33 percent of the world’s harvested fish go to feeding livestock?
Yes, 33%… as in one third!
As demand for livestock increases, demand for harvested fish also increases. The industry is unable to keep up with the pace, causing the industry to respond with implementation of questionable and exploitative practices that, in turn, can cause localized ecosystems in the ocean to collapse. If you choose to consume fish, either in transition or as an alternative to livestock, look for wild-caught options and consult a seafood sustainability guide for which species are in season and thriving.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch is an invaluable resource for education and resources concerning seafood consumption and its sustainability. Whether you consume fish or not, I encourage you to visit the site and educate yourself about our impact. Who knows? Maybe the next time a friend orders fish, and you share your knowledge, it could be the last time he or she chooses to support unsustainable seafood.
Yes, 33%… as in one third!
As demand for livestock increases, demand for harvested fish also increases. The industry is unable to keep up with the pace, causing the industry to respond with implementation of questionable and exploitative practices that, in turn, can cause localized ecosystems in the ocean to collapse. If you choose to consume fish, either in transition or as an alternative to livestock, look for wild-caught options and consult a seafood sustainability guide for which species are in season and thriving.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch is an invaluable resource for education and resources concerning seafood consumption and its sustainability. Whether you consume fish or not, I encourage you to visit the site and educate yourself about our impact. Who knows? Maybe the next time a friend orders fish, and you share your knowledge, it could be the last time he or she chooses to support unsustainable seafood.
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