Eating right for the oceans
Eating right for the oceans isn't always easy. A colleague at the Sea Around Us Project out of the University of British Columbia just wrote an interesting essay on why choosing sustainable seafood isn't enough to save the world's fish. (See "Careful Consumption Alone Can't Save the World's Fish" by Jennifer Jaquet.)
First, she argues that since seafood has become a globalized product--40 percent of the world's seafood is traded between nations--we often can't tell what species of fish we are actually buying, let alone how it was caught. Second, in some cases, if these "sustainable" choices become too popular, then the label could actually prompt intensive pressure to overfish them. Finally, we can't neglect the continued importance of putting pressure on politicians to tighten ocean conservation measures and fishing regulations.
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Sustainable Seafood in Japan and China
As Mr. Aguirre notes, we cannot ignore China and Japan, the first and third largest seafood consumers, respectively. (The European Union is the second and the United States is the fourth.) But, as far as I know, the sustainable seafood movement hasn't taken off in either of these countries. I am glad to hear about the above efforts to work with a Japanese retailer and to work with Wal-Mart in China. But is this enough?
I'd welcome any other information on efforts to change seafood buying habits in China and Japan.
Careful Consumption Alone Can't Save the World's Fish
Authors Jacquet and Pauly convey many important points regarding the effectiveness of seafood awareness campaigns in general and eco-labeling in particular on ocean conservation in their paper “The rise of seafood awareness campaigns in an era of collapsing fisheries”. They highlight alarming destructive fishing practices and illegal activities occurring today in our global fisheries emphasizing the need for immediate action to be taken. The authors acknowledge that social marketing campaigns and the resultant consumer awareness are “undeniably important”, yet they find fault in eco-labeling of seafood and other consumer awareness campaigns. Ocean conservation awareness campaigns are constantly changing and gaining traction at an ever increasing pace, but several important sources cited in the paper are over eight years old with some as old as thirteen years. Consumer attitudes and knowledge, as well as business approaches, have evolved dramatically in the eight years. There is a clear lack of academic work in this area and, unfortunately, the author relies on outdated sources. Sustainable seafood campaigns are evolving rapidly. I encourage the authors to contact these organizations, such as my own NGO FishWise, to learn how many of the faults they have identified have been rectified.
A prominent weak point in their paper is that the authors believe that the public is being mislead into believing that “conservation based on purchasing power alone will adequately address” the problems of global fisheries. Seafood awareness campaigns do not operate in isolation and are integrated into a multi-faceted approach to ocean conservation, encompassing public policy, academia, public outreach as well as partnerships with progressive businesses. It is exactly this multi-faceted approach, of which consumer awareness is a cornerstone, which will effect lasting change on global fisheries and ocean ecosystems.
Specific points are addressed below:
Asia is the biggest consumer marketplace for seafood, yet Asians do not base consumption choices on environmental issues, won’t be responsive to eco-labeling and environmental groups are not targeting Asian consumers.
-MSC is entering the Asian market through a partnership with Aeon, a Japanese retailer, and is hoping to make inroads into China through Wal-Mart in the future.
-Asian consumer choices are only limited by education- the fact that they may not make choices today based on environmental issues is not a permanent state of mind and can be changed.
-There is much effort being put into improving Asian shrimp farming practices, of which consumer demand plays a big role.
Only fisheries standing to achieve monetary gains will seek to change
-FishWise, a nonprofit sustainable seafood program for retailers, labels all seafood according to the criteria of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Those that are labeled red (unsustainable) will have an incentive to improve due to consumer preference.
Consumers that chose certified products belonged to environmental groups.
-Consumers that belong to environmental groups tend to be educated individuals; therefore as the general public becomes more educated about ocean conservation, we might be able to assume that they too will begin to choose more sustainable products as well.
Section 3.2 outlines the problems of the lack of traceability of a seafood product, and therefore, the possibility that seafood labeling is often inaccurate.
-The problems outlined prove the case for the necessity of rigorous standards and the use of chain of custody to determine accurately the origins of the product, key components of the Marine Stewardship Council program.
Studies show that more than 50% of environmental advertising is deceptive or misleading.
-This statement proves the case for a comprehensive, science based approach to hold seafood producers accountable and accurate in their advertising. FishWise is an independent, science based organization which provides the consumer with the most accurate information possible (given the limitations of the industry) about sustainable seafood choices.
The MSC has failed to prove that they have made a difference in fishery stocks.
-MSC is currently unable to prove conservation gains because of the confidential nature of the pre-assessment done on a fishery. It is in this pre-assessment phase that most of the conservation gains are realized. They are developing methods to prove their gains without compromising their confidentiality agreements.
Consumption of sustainable fish puts excessive pressure on presently healthy stocks.
-Part of a scientifically based definition of sustainable includes good management. Therefore, if demand for a sustainable species were to increase, the species would not then be fished more than the current quota due to good management practices.
Tilapia sales might have increased due to its inexpensive price and low mercury status, rather than its sustainable status.
-FishWise is aware that consumers make decisions based on many factors, such as price, health and sustainability, therefore we look for opportunities where we can bundle all these areas into one. Products that are low in mercury, sustainable, and inexpensive are actively promoted.
Statistic from 2004 states that consumption of seafood per capita has increased since 2002.
-The most current statistic shows that seafood consumption of pound per capita has actually declined.
Organizations need to support small scale fisheries, reduce fishing capacity, and slow the rate of fishing.
-While this is important, most consumers don’t have the level of education needed to determine which product comes from a small scale fishery, etc. The FishWise program, as well as MSC, label products that are sustainable and educate the consumer at the point of sale.
Sincerely,
Tobias Aguirre
Executive Director
FishWise