Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 7
Advancing the Global Marketplace
for Sustainable Seafood: The
Seafood Choices Alliance
Michael Boots
There are so many differing views about seafood sustainability. Seafood Choices
Alliance bridges an important gap in brokering those views and helping companies
make the right decisions.
Mike Barry, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility,
Marks & Spencer, May 2006
The 'sustainability movement' is now an integral part of the seafood business.
Top trends for 2005, IntraFish, December 2004
7.1 Introduction
7.1.1 Conditioning the climate for sustainable seafood
The ocean plays a critical role in our everyday lives and in the future of our planet,
particularly, and increasingly, when it comes to the food we eat. Yet despite its
importance, we have not been very good stewards of our marine resources. We have
squandered a historical bounty, fished beyond ecological limits and polluted the
seas. A growing human population puts even more pressure on the ocean (Delgado
et al
. 2003).
In many nations, seafood is still a relatively affordable source of protein, although
an increasing demand from consumers in developed countries exerts a strong in-
centive to fish or farm more of the 'luxury' species. Seafood now provides at least
20% of the average per capita animal protein intake for more than 2.6 billion of the
planet's people (FAO 2007). Diners crave seafood - Americans each eat about 16
lb (about 7.3 kg) per year - and restaurants and retailers want to meet that demand.
Seafood has long been the most popular appetiser selection on American restaurant
menus (Han 1998, Ramseyer 2000, Perlik 2006). Increases in seafood consumption
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