What are the best ways to ensure your seafood is sustainably sourced?

If you are a culinary manager who cares about the environmental and social impact of your menu choices, you might wonder how to ensure your seafood is sustainably sourced. Sustainable seafood means that it comes from healthy fish populations, is harvested or farmed in ways that minimize harm to the ecosystem, and respects the rights and well-being of the workers and communities involved. In this article, you will learn some of the best ways to ensure your seafood is sustainably sourced, from choosing certified products to asking the right questions to your suppliers.

1 Check the labels and certifications

One of the easiest ways to ensure your seafood is sustainably sourced is to look for labels and certifications that indicate the product meets certain standards of environmental and social responsibility. Some of the most widely recognized and credible labels and certifications are the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), and the Fair Trade USA. These labels and certifications are based on rigorous assessments and audits of the seafood production chain, from the fishing or farming practices to the processing and distribution.

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Magno Cavalcante

Representante e Gestor Comercial | Especializado no varejo e atacado | Expertise em Negociação, Análise de mercado, desenvolvimento de portfólio e marketing estratégico | MBA Gestão Comercial FGV
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Ao escolher produtos com esses rótulos, você não apenas contribui para a sustentabilidade dos frutos do mar, mas também apoia práticas responsáveis que beneficiam o meio ambiente e as comunidades envolvidas na produção.

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2 Use online tools and guides

Another way to ensure your seafood is sustainably sourced is to use online tools and guides that provide information and recommendations on different types of seafood and their sustainability status. Some of the most popular and reliable online tools and guides are the Seafood Watch program by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the SeaChoice program by the David Suzuki Foundation, the Good Fish Guide by the Marine Conservation Society, and the Seafood Selector by the Environmental Defense Fund. These online tools and guides allow you to search for specific seafood items, compare them based on various criteria, and find alternatives that are more sustainable.

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Magno Cavalcante

Representante e Gestor Comercial | Especializado no varejo e atacado | Expertise em Negociação, Análise de mercado, desenvolvimento de portfólio e marketing estratégico | MBA Gestão Comercial FGV
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Estas ferramentas proporcionam aos consumidores acesso fácil a informações detalhadas sobre o estado de sustentabilidade de diferentes frutos do mar, capacitando-os a tomar decisões informadas e promovendo práticas de consumo mais conscientes.

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3 Ask your suppliers and vendors

A third way to ensure your seafood is sustainably sourced is to ask your suppliers and vendors about the origin, traceability, and quality of their products. You can ask them questions such as: Where and how was the seafood caught or farmed? What are the environmental and social impacts of the seafood production? How do they ensure the seafood is fresh, safe, and legal? How do they verify the claims and labels on their products? Asking your suppliers and vendors these questions can help you build trust, transparency, and accountability in your seafood supply chain, as well as identify potential risks and opportunities for improvement.

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4 Join industry initiatives and networks

A fourth way to ensure your seafood is sustainably sourced is to join industry initiatives and networks that promote and support sustainable seafood practices and policies. By joining these initiatives and networks, you can access resources, training, tools, and guidance on how to source, serve, and communicate about sustainable seafood. You can also collaborate with other culinary managers, chefs, restaurateurs, and stakeholders who share your vision and values. Some of the industry initiatives and networks that you can join are the Chefs for Oceans, the Seafood Nutrition Partnership, the Sustainable Seafood Coalition, and the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative.

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Brian Brophey

🎸 🌱 Animal rights, music.
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Don’t eat seafood - it cannot actually be sourced sustainably. Nor can it be sourced ethically. Fish are sentient beings who feel pain. Catching fish on a commercial scale involves “by-catch” of even more unwanted and wasted fish, trillions per year. #SaveAnimals #GoVegan

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5 Educate yourself and your customers

A fifth way to ensure your seafood is sustainably sourced is to educate yourself and your customers about the importance and benefits of sustainable seafood. You can educate yourself by reading books, articles, reports, and blogs that cover topics such as the state of the oceans, the challenges and solutions for sustainable seafood, the best practices and innovations in the seafood industry, and the health and nutritional aspects of seafood. You can educate your customers by creating menus, signs, labels, and stories that highlight the sustainability features and stories of your seafood dishes, as well as by engaging them in conversations and feedback.

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6 Keep learning and improving

A sixth way to ensure your seafood is sustainably sourced is to keep learning and improving your knowledge, skills, and actions related to sustainable seafood. You can keep learning and improving by staying updated on the latest trends, developments, and research on sustainable seafood, by attending webinars, workshops, events, and courses on sustainable seafood, by seeking advice and feedback from experts, peers, and customers on your sustainable seafood practices, and by measuring and evaluating your progress and impact on sustainable seafood.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the best ways to ensure your seafood is sustainably sourced?

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1 Check the labels and certifications

2 Use online tools and guides

3 Ask your suppliers and vendors

4 Join industry initiatives and networks

5 Educate yourself and your customers

6 Keep learning and improving

7 Here’s what else to consider

Culinary Management

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What are the best ways to ensure your seafood is sustainably sourced?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Check the labels and certifications

2 Use online tools and guides

3 Ask your suppliers and vendors

4 Join industry initiatives and networks

5 Educate yourself and your customers

6 Keep learning and improving

7 Here’s what else to consider

Culinary Management

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