European consumption of fish has doubled in 50 years. Global consumption of salmon alone has tripled since the 1980s … Scientists say in 2018 a species of fish from the three is endangered, and one in two struggles to renew itself … This is how the wild sturgeon, overfished for its eggs from which caviar is made, has completely disappeared in the wild. The only caviar you can eat today is a farmed product. It is now considered that if overfishing of fish continues at this rate, the oceans will be empty in 30 years.
Given the urgency of the situation, we can all act. By starting by changing our eating habits towards flexitarianism, and reducing our consumption of fish. Eating vegetarian on Monday seems like a good start. The rest of the time, let's be vigilant about the species of fish we eat. Fishing or farming method, presence of heavy metals or plastic, size of the catch, season and places of fishing … The criteria are numerous and divide the experts.
An example ? The farmed fish offer a good solution if they are raised respecting the organic specifications. Otherwise, this method of production harms the environment and your health because it uses chemicals. The impacts of salmon aquaculture are therefore very worrying, the parasite Gyrodactylus salaris infesting colonies … as well as the natural environment.
This is why it is important to identify the labels created to identify seafood from responsible practices and which in particular combat overfishing of fish: MSC, ASC or Bio. Indeed, certain fish can be eaten or not according to their origin: the wild saithe can be eaten if it is fished in Iceland or Norway, but not if it comes from Scotland, where it struggles to reproduce . The labels thus guarantee you a controlled provenance. However, let us retain the species of fish to be privileged and those to be left alone. Practical every day like the Yuka app which decrypts the labels for us, the Planet Ocean app informs you in real time whether the fish you want on the display is to be preferred, to be consumed in moderation, or to be avoided.
Green light on fish and shellfish that can be eaten more than 4 times a month
FISH: the whiting, hake (also called hake), sea bream grey, the haddock (trawl) or haddock, flounder, mackerel and Atlantic herring, sardines, trout, squid or squid, pagre, rearing berry, bonito, pout.
SEAFOOD: mussels, the shrimp, whelks, clams, crab and king crab, crayfish, oysters (farmed), scallops.
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Orange light on fish and shellfish to avoid to protect them
FISH: the Salmon from Norway, the monkfish or monkfish, the sole, the red mullet-barbet, the tuna white or albacore, the hake, the yellow place, the turbot, the rubot, the lionfish, and anchovy.
SEAFOOD: lobster, lobster, St. Jacques shells.
Red light on threatened fish and crustaceans
FISH: the bar or sea bass, the cod that we call cod when it is dried, swordfish, the panga, the skate, the halibut, redfish, eel, cernier, sea bream, emperor, grouper, horse mackerel, glass eel, toothfish, blue ling, conger eel, plaice, black saber, pagre, pomegranate , the shark and the dogfish.
To go further, consult the WWF fish guide.
The thorny problem of shrimp
It is one of the most consumed seafood in the world. Be aware, 4 million tonnes are sold each year. Despite the overfishing it suffers, this species manages to miraculously maintain its number of individuals. So the problem here is not the survival of the species, but its fishing mode which leads to unnecessary overfishing of fish and other inhabitants of the oceans. For 1 kg of shrimp caught, up to 10 kg of marine animals and fish are caught in fishing nets! Shrimp fishing alone accounts for more than 30% of the fish caught and then discarded in the sea. Also, whatever Forest Gump, the trawlers, dragging their nets on the bottom, devastate the whole ecosystem on their way, like the Barbed or Grondin fishing. As for farmed shrimp, in Southeast Asia, they cause destruction of mangrove corals and pollution of coastlines. Again, to enjoy shrimp with peace of mind, it is better to scrutinize the labels and choose shrimp under an organic and sustainable fishing label, MSC or ASC.
Fish overfishing : the good idea, shopping at sensitized traders
Knowing the labels is essential, but it is also better to favor traders already aware of the subject to put the odds on the ocean side. This is the case of the brand Intermarket of the Les Mousquetaires group with its unique model of "Producers & Traders". Very committed since always in the best production to eat better and therefore the best to consume, did you know that the group Les Mousquetaire with its sea sector has adopted an ambitious sustainable fishing plan? As Intermarché president Thierry Cotillard points out: " A consumer who buys his fresh fish from Intermarché has all the guarantees of consuming fish caught also by a fleet of vessels that takes into account all the challenges of responsible fishing. Good news, you can start protecting the oceans just by shopping. So go to your baskets!
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