What are the benefits of eating sustainable fish and shellfish?
As more and more doctors recommend fish and shellfish, it has become difficult to take into account the sustainability and ecosystems associated with fishing.
What is a sustainable fish? Does the risk associated with fishing outweigh the health benefits of the fish? What should be eaten, farmed fish or wild fish? Well, there can be a number of questions one can get lost in. So let us understand what are the benefits of eating sustainable fish.
1. They are healthy
Many sustainable fish are high in protein, nutrients, minerals, and heart-pounding omega-3s, while containing low amounts of destructive synthetic chemicals. Overfished fish, such as salmon and tuna, typically contain mercury, PCBs, and contaminants. Larger fish higher up the food chain will generally have higher levels of dangerous synthetic chemicals due to bioaccumulation. Therefore, sustainable seafood is pure and healthy.
2. You have to spend less money on them
Sustainable fish like trout and char are quite affordable, unlike salmon. You can also buy farm-raised fish instead of expensive wild-caught fish to save money.
3. You can consume shellfish in the form of fish oil
One can reap the immense benefits of eating seafood by consuming it in the form of supplements and fish oil. Fish oil is obtained from fish that are caught to feed humans, as well as from fish that are caught to feed animals. Buying sustainable fish oil and supplements not only benefits your health but also benefits ocean ecosystems.
4. It will help you support local farmers
Local farmers survive on small-scale fishing, unlike large commercial fishing companies that can catch fish in large numbers using modern equipment and fleets. By choosing third-party certified and sustainable seafood, you will help poor farmers make a living.
Is it wise to stop eating fish?
Several people claim that one should stop eating fish as the oceans are depleting of marine life. We believe that it is not the solution because many fishermen depend on fish for their livelihood and furthermore fish is packed with many health benefits. They are rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and of high quality. They contain omega-3 fatty acids, which is vital for a healthy body and reduces the risk of diseases such as heart attacks.
They improve brain health, prevent depression, reduce the risk of autoimmune diseases, and can improve sleep quality and much more.
Fish is a delicious food that has many health benefits. So instead of taking a drastic step, you should take a determined step that can benefit both the environment and human health. The best way to achieve this is to start looking for sustainable seafood.
How to check if the seafood you are buying is sustainable or not?
Sustainable fishing has become an intriguing topic in the past decade due to concerns about overfishing and fishing practices that damage the seabed. For fish to be described as sustainable, numerous elements are taken into account, such as what kind of feed the fish are fed if they are farmed, the ecological effect of the fishery, angling strategies, and the current fish population , etc.
There are numerous sustainable seafood certifications and programs that work in partnership with fisheries, farms, and businesses to promote sustainable seafood practices and ensure a safe, sound, and responsible fish supply. You can check these certifications when you go grocery shopping. You can also look for sustainability options when you eat at a nearby restaurant.
According to the report by the International Union for the Conservation of Wild Fishes, more than 85 percent of the world’s fisheries are completely underutilized. Therefore, harvesting farmed fish reasonably reduces the weight of wild fisheries and allows them to reproduce.
Finally, seafood is a wonderful source of protein, omega 3 fatty acids, but to create the right balance between fish, humans and the oceans, nothing better than choosing sustainable seafood options.