Your guide to sustainable seafood this Christmas

The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) is calling on seafood-loving Australians to shop sustainably this festive season.

AMCS Sustainable Seafood Campaigner Josh Coates said that while Christmas is a popular time of year to eat seafood, not all fish are equal when it comes to impact on our oceans.

“Over three-quarters of our global fish stocks are either overexploited or fished right up to their limit,” said Coates. “Some fisheries unintentionally catch threatened dolphins, endangered sharks and turtles.”

In response to growing public concern about overfishing, AMCS has launched Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide — an independent tool to help consumers choose seafood wisely. Based on the latest scientific data, the guide features an easy-to-use traffic light system and informs the user of any threats to protected species or fish stocks, and how the seafood is farmed or fished.

“Australians are looking for healthy Australian seafood choices that are sustainable in the long term,” said Coates. “By using our independent, user-friendly guide, we can help ensure there will be seafood around for the future.”

Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide is available as a free app, online or as a printed booklet. For more information, visit www.sustainableseafood.org.au.

Image credit: ©ZIQUIU/Dollar Photo Club