Sustainable Seafood: Benefiting Your Health and the Environment

Seafood has long been known to have tremendous benefits for people who consume it responsibly. It’s a great source of essential nutrients and protein that helps individuals have a healthy diet and overall lifestyle.

However, there is an issue with seafood consumption that many people overlook: its sustainability. Over the years, as populations grow and the worldwide demand for seafood increases, seafood availability and populations continue to decrease. 

What Does Seafood Sustainability Mean? 

Catching or collecting seafood in the wild is a problem all over. Supply and demand are skewed, and seafood populations are heavily impacted as a result. Modern seafood sourcing must focus its attention on maintaining sustainable practices, meaning there’s a need to focus on the environmental impacts and the economic viability of the seafood industry as a whole. 

Seafood farming in sustainable ways is essential to protect current wild populations and simultaneously provide people with the seafood they want to include in their diets.

Why Eat Sustainable Seafood? 

Seafood is an excellent addition to a healthy diet. It’s low in cholesterol and provides a lean protein that also tastes great. Those individuals who consume more seafood tend to have better health and a more diverse diet that they enjoy, promoting better eating habits. While some people might not like clams, there is usually another type of seafood they will like, such as salt and fresh water fish. 

The possibilities with seafood preparation are also endless. There are so many ways to prepare seafood meals that you’ll rarely get bored with them. Most parts of the country also have seafood options readily available at their supermarkets, which provide many with better alternatives to red meat consumption. 

When seafood is regularly consumed in conjunction with a sensible exercise routine, it can have noticeable positive impacts on health and well-being. Seafood can also improve your mood. It’s well documented that D vitamins in seafood have mood-boosting properties. So not only can you physically enhance your health, but you can also boost your mood. 

What Types of Seafood Are Most Sustainable? 

Ethically farmed and sourced seafood with operation regulations in place is one the best way to obtain sustainable seafood. In order to be sustainable, seafood must address critical environmental concerns and impacts whether it is farmed or wild.

There must also be a way to harvest and replace seafood in either environment. In the wild, it means that fishing and harvesting are closely monitored and regulated to avoid huge impacts on reproduction and populations. It means adhering to ethical practices and monitoring how seafood is raised, fed, harvested, and packaged on seafood farms.

The goal is to minimize the overall impact of fishing and harvesting on the environment and other wildlife in the area. Sustainable practices are used widely for almost all types of legal seafood in every part of the country. 

Sustainable Seafood to Include in Your Diet

There are many types of seafood available today. The options range from mollusks to shellfish and actual fish — the best way to determine which options you like and want to consume is to experiment. However, there are some seafood options you want to focus your attention on if you’re going to get the most versatility and convenience when attempting to purchase sustainable options. 

Perhaps the best choice all around for most people is wild salmon. Salmon is one of the tastiest and healthiest options out of all the seafood choices. It’s easy to find and provides people with many options for preparation. In fact, you can even get wild salmon delivery right to your home. 

Salmon is used widely in sushi dishes and baked and stuffed main dishes found in top restaurants worldwide. There are so many things you can do with this fish. 

Another suggestion is shrimp. Shrimp is just as versatile as salmon and provides a source of iodine — which most adults are deficient in due to the modern diet. Some other options can also include squid and octopus. Both have a mild flavor and substantial texture. Where they shine is their ability to stand up to flying, marinating, sautéing, and more. 

Outcomes for Choosing Sustainable Seafood

When people choose to purchase sustainable seafood, they can expect a few things to happen. First, they can make a difference in the environment and seafood populations across the globe. Secondly, they can also expect to reap many health benefits, not to mention a boost in the versatility and satisfaction of their diet.

The best course of action is to investigate which companies adhere to sustainable practices and choose to do business with them alone. As sustainability practices become the norm, we can expect positive impacts in several areas while enjoying the richness and variety it adds to your diet.