Issues that impact the fishing industry: Supporting sustainability for Wild-caught and Farmed Fish

The Dallas family has been in the grocery business for over 35 years. When Chris and his brothers started out, they stocked the store with fresh fish from all over the world. Now, they opt for farm-raised fish, buy less of it, and prioritize being conscientious and responsible in sourcing, taking into account the numerous issues that impact the fishing industry today. 

High Yield Fishing Conglomerates and Overfishing

 “To put it simply, we have overfished the oceans,” Chris explains. “There have been little to no sanctions [when it comes to fishing] and questionable practices that are depleting and obliterating resources.” Large-scale fishing conglomerates launch fishing boats that are essentially floating factories. They stay on the ocean for years at a time, catching and processing the fish onboard 24/7/365 while smaller boats run the product to shore. However, the environmental repercussions of this unsustainable approach are short-sighted and are harming the balance of our ecosystem and food chain.  “We are a part of the food chain and I like to ask myself–what is my part in it? I like to buy products that were brought to us in an ethical and sustainable way–there has to be a point at which we all have to care.” 

Eating More Sustainably: Making the Mindset Shift from Wild-Caught to Farmed Fish

According to Chris, an easy way to help as a consumer is to embrace high-quality farmed fish. Many years ago he had a hard time buying anything farm-raised, but with large-scale fishing operations depleting ocean resources faster than they can restore themselves, he views sustainably-farmed wishes as the only sustainable option for the future of seafood. “Not long ago people didn’t know that Yellow Tail and other types of fish like this could be raised in farm environments,” says Chris. “Today you can find great quality farmed options.”

Chris makes it his mission to stay informed about the constantly changing state of affairs in the fishing world. From pollution and contamination to where and how the fish is harvested and what is going on in the source areas, there are many issues to “get comfortable with,” when it comes to seafood these days. Between environmental, economic, and industrial factors, finding fish that is both high-quality and sourced sustainably is increasingly difficult, especially because he avoids purchasing from conglomerate fishing companies whenever possible. “The most disturbing part is not only oceans that are overfished, but the people who live in these fishing villages. They are being limited and their ways of life and cultures are disappearing. We like to think these things are happening somewhere else, not to us, but in reality, we are all in the same boat (no pun intended).”