The Cost of Seafood
Why Is Responsible Seafood Important?
More than three billion people rely on the ocean for a primary source of protein and up to 10% of the global population relies on fisheries for their livelihood. This is particularly true in coastal communities that live off of and depend on the ocean where small-scale fisheries provide subsistence and stability.
The real danger lies in the exploitation and corruption of the global seafood industry, which poses major threats to human rights, public health, and the environment. Daily choices to support responsible seafood suppliers or to choose not to serve or order seafood drive meaningful impact.
THE FACTS
- 93% of fish stocks are maximally fished or overfished. This means that most fish populations on Earth are exploited or are at the risk of being overexploited yet the demand for seafood is increasing.
- 30% of fishing is categorized as Illegal, Unreported or Unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).
- Over a third (⅓) of fish and seafood products are lost or discarded from a wasteful global industry.
- Up to 40% of fish sold are mislabelled