Plenty of fish in the sea?

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that half of the world’s fish stocks are already being exploited to the hilt and a further quarter are now fished beyond maximum sustainable levels. Sustainability can depend on where and how a fish was caught as well as its species. Enough to induce paralysis at the fish counter. Fortunately, SASSI (The Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative) are attempting to make it a little easier for us consumers.
Their Consumer Seafood Species List helps us to make sensible and sustainable choices.
How does the list work? Species, or in some cases groups of similar species have been placed into different colour categories. Each colour has a different meaning:

GREEN
These are species that are from relatively healthy and well-managed populations that can sustain current fishing pressure. Some green species are not targeted by any particular fishery, but are managed as a sustainable bycatch. These species are recommended as the most sustainable choices available.

ORANGE
These species may be legally sold by registered commercial fishers and retailers. However, an increased demand for these could compromise a sustainable supply, due to one or more of the following reasons:
The species may presently be rare because they are overfished.
The fishery that catches them may damage the environment through the method used and/or high bycatch.
The biology of the species makes it vulnerable to overfishing, or it may not have been adequately studied, but it is suspected that it will be unable to sustain heavy fishing pressure based on information for related species.
Consumers are encouraged to consider the implications of these choices.

RED
These species are illegal to buy or sell in South, Africa according to the Marine Living Resources Act. Some of these “no-sale” species are very important recreational species that cannot handle commercial fishing pressures, and may therefore only be caught for your own enjoyment and use, subject to the possession of a valid recreational fishing permit and other restrictions that may apply (such as daily bag limits, closed seasons and minimum sizes).



For further information and to download their Consumer List visit: http://www.panda.org.za/