Seafood Supply

For a significant number of American consumers, information on sustainability is a factor when buying seafood

harvests of seafood are considered sustainable when managed in such a way that landings are not beyond stocks deplete their ability to reproduce and rebuild the population levels. Another key aspect of sustainability is a consideration of bycatch or environmental damage that is associated with the harvesting.

Several laws in the United States and abroad have had a profound impact on the sustainability issues of seafood Magnuson Conservation and Fisheries Management Act 1976 of the United States established an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) 3 to 200 miles offshore, and has established eight regional fisheries committees to manage the living marine resources in this area. The bill was amended October 11, 1996 and renamed the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

The law was adopted primarily to address heavy foreign fishing, promote the development of a national fleet and to connect the fishing community more directly in the management process. Each Council was asked to prepare plans for fisheries management for implementation by the Secretary of Commerce. The eight councils are managed by the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service).

The 1996 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, known as the Sustainable Fisheries Act has significantly changed the focus of fisheries management by adding provisions to fight against overfishing of stocks currently depressed, rebuild depleted stocks and reducing bycatch mortality. The amendment also reformed the process of approving plans for fisheries management, regulatory processes, have created protections for fish habitat, introduced user charges and has sought to reduce conflicts interests within regional councils.

Several organizations around the world to provide certification of the sustainability of seafood, research and other information. A leader in sustainable development worldwide is the Marine Stewardship Council, an international non-profit organization promoting solutions to the problem of overfishing. MSC provides an independent certification and eco-labeling for wild fish catch.

The MSC program is compatible with the guidelines of the United Nations FAO fisheries certification and the Code of Practice ISEAL for establishing social and environmental standards. In January 2009, the number of marine products throughout the world bearing the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) ecolabel reached 2,000 and continues to grow rapidly.

Friend of the Sea is a nonprofit organization not Governorate (NGO) whose objectives are the conservation of marine habitats and resources through incentives and specific conservation projects. Friend of the Sea offers a certification for products originating from both wild and sustainable fisheries aquaculture operations.

Friend of the Sea has certified the largest volume of seafood in the world, having evaluated more than 10 million tons of wild catches and 500 thousand metric tons of livestock products.

American organizations like the American wild shrimp, Inc. (Wasi) promote sustainability of domestic fisheries. WASI educates the public about sustainable American shrimp caught in the wild in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas and South Carolina.

Wild American Shrimp Certification Program administered by Wasi, ensures that hot water, wild caught shrimp in the coastal waters of the United States responds to a high level of quality and consistency. Shrimp that meet the standards are marked with the brand certified Wild American Shrimp. Participation in the certification program is available to fishermen, processors, distributors, retailers, grocers and restaurateurs.

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