Seafood is delicious, and the consumption of seafood is rising in popularity with each passing year. But if you love the environment and the natural existence of life in the sea, you may wonder if there is a way to shop for seafood while still consuming sustainably.
Don’t fret because there is a way. We’ve researched around the globe to put together this guide for you so you can shop for sustainable seafood for your next dinner.
Why Eat Seafood at All?
Seafood is delicious, but those who are environmentally conscious may argue against consuming it. There’s just one problem: seafood is the healthiest type of protein available.
This means that those who have heart or stomach conditions that prohibit them from eating red meat often rely on seafood for a healthy source of protein. Not only that but seafood is packed with vitamins that are essential to the human body—many of which can’t be created or found in other sources. The many benefits of eating seafood are as follows:
- Fish contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain health.
- Seafood contains essential vitamins D, B2, and B12.
- Fish is an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus.
- Seafood products contain significant amounts of iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and potassium.
- Fish is high in protein but low in fat, making it an excellent food for those trying to watch fat intake.
- Consuming seafood is essential for maintaining heart and brain health.
How to Consume Seafood Sustainably
1. Choose Seafood Varieties Which Are Naturally Sustainable
While all seafood offers a variety of health benefits to the human body, only certain types of seafood are truly sustainable. Although it’s still fine to eat your favorite type of seafood on special occasions, on days when you are just adding seafood to another recipe, try to choose more sustainable types of seafood.
In the United States, the most sustainable seafoods are as follows:
- Stone Crab
- Clams
- Mussels
- Oysters
Interestingly enough, all of the above seafoods are 100% sustainable for a variety of reasons. With stone crabs, only one claw is harvested from a live crab before returning it to the sea. The crab will regrow its claw, creating a sustainable seafood source.
Oysters, mussels, and clams are often farmed in the United States, making them 100% sustainable. In fact, these products are so sustainable that consuming them is better for the environment than eating plants! You should never hesitate to consider these for dinner, as you can rest easy knowing you aren’t impacting the environment.
2. Look For Sellers Who Source Sustainably
As we mentioned above, it is still okay to enjoy your favorite seafood, which isn’t 100% sustainable, but make sure you are acquiring it from a sustainable source. In general, any seafood harvested by an American company is reasonably sustainable, as US fishing laws must be followed during the fishing process, ensuring the environment is impacted as little as possible.
In addition, the countries of Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, and the EU all source their seafood under similar laws, working to lessen the impact of fishing on nature. Most products you look to buy should have a label showing where they are sourced and how. If you can’t find this information on a package or on their website, it’s probably better to skip that brand.
For some reason, there has been a lot of hate for “farmed” seafood. It’s important to recognize that there is nothing wrong with farmed seafood, and their methods are often more sustainable than wild-caught seafood. Just be cautious of farmed seafood from farms outside of the United States, as these seafood farms may break social responsibility laws, especially in Asian countries.
3. Buy From a Seller In Your Country
That brings us to the next point. While it might seem cheaper to order seafood from a Chinese company, there is no guarantee that they are following fishing laws or sourcing their seafood sustainably.
It is much better to buy from a company in the United States, so you know they are following the local seafood laws. Additionally, seafood can spoil over long transits, so it is better to buy from a location near you, so waste is lessened, and everything arrives fresh.
Stone Crab Club is one premium seller of seafood in the United States, and they can ship all orders in under 48 hours, ensuring they arrive fresh at your door whenever you need seafood!
4. Buy In Season
Food that is consumed in season is much more likely to be harvested sustainably than seafood consumed out of season. Stone crab, for example, can only be harvested during the molting season, meaning it is fresh and abundant during this time. Out of season, the crab is much more likely to be harvested illegally or using unstainable methods.
Not all seafood has seasons, as items like shrimp and clams are harvested year-round. Anything farmed is also sustainable to consume year-round. Below is information about wild-caught seafood, which typically has a specified harvesting season.
- Salmon: June-December
- Stone crab: Mid-October through April
- Dungeness Crab: December-August
- Blue Crabs: March-December
- King Crabs: October to January
- Snow Crabs: October to May
- Tuna: June-October/November
- Lobster: June-December
- Oysters: September-April
5. Only Buy What You Will Eat
The last way to ensure you consume seafood sustainably is to only buy what you will eat and to order often if you consume a lot of seafood. Seafood spoils quickly, so you don’t want to order too much at once that you will end up throwing away.
Many mail-order seafood companies, like Stone Crab Club, offer seafood subscription services. These types of services are a good way to get the seafood you want on a regular basis when it is in season.
Enjoy Sustainable Seafood Today
As you can see, there are a number of ways to still get the health benefits of seafood while controlling your impact on the environment. No matter what type of seafood you prefer, there is a way to enjoy it sustainably when you order from companies like Stone Crab Club.
Whether you are interested in their 100% sustainable stone crab or maybe their delicious Australian lobster tails, you can guarantee they will ship the best and freshest seafood to your door!