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Every June, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) participates in World Ocean Day — a global event created by the United Nations that highlights the importance of our ocean and raises awareness of the actions we can all take to protect it.

Celebrating Sustainable Fishing on World Ocean Day

At the MSC we know that sustainable fishing is critical to ensuring that the ocean has healthy fish populations, that marine ecosystems are protected, and that people around the world have access to healthy seafood for generations to come.

This year, we’re celebrating the role that MSC certified sustainable fisheries play in protecting the ocean, and showing how sustainable fishing means so much more than you might think.

Sustainable Fishing Means More…

The Latest Sustainable Fishing Stories

Read the latest sustainable fishing stories.

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Headshot of woman in front of an underwater background

Emily Wyatt, MSC

In this Earth Month series, we’re breaking down what exactly makes some seafood “good for you and the ocean too.” 

Seafood is widely regarded as a healthy choice; it’s high in protein and good fats and is packed full of important vitamins and minerals that are hard to get elsewhere. 

Plus, wild-caught seafood doesn’t have the hefty environmental impact that many other high-protein foods have. When compared to land-based animal proteins like chicken and beef, wild caught seafood has a lower carbon footprint, and requires no land, fresh water, fertilizers, or feed. 

And, when fisheries are well-managed, they can provide generation after generation with a sustainable food source. Looking for the MSC blue fish label is a great way to make sure you can get the benefits of seafood while supporting well-managed, sustainable fisheries that don’t leave a lasting impact on the ocean. 

So, how does salmon stack up?

Good for you and the ocean too salmon

Is salmon healthy and sustainable? 

Salmon has been one of the two most popular seafood options in North America for decades. And for good reason – it’s delicious, versatile, healthy, and easy to find. And when it comes from an MSC certified fishery, it’s also healthy for the ocean. 

Wild salmon is good for you

There are five species of wild Pacific salmon in the North Pacific waters: chinook/king, sockeye/red, coho/silver, pink/humpback, and keta/chum, which means there is plenty of variety to choose from. Each species has its own flavor profile and can be used in different preparations and recipes. 

The one thing all varieties have in common, though, is that salmon is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which benefit the brain, heart, and eyes. Of all varieties, Chinook/King salmon has the highest omega-3 levels. 

Salmon is also high in protein—one three ounce serving gives you 16.8 grams of protein—which helps protect bone health and prevent muscle loss, among other benefits. It also has many other nutrients like Vitamins A, B-12, and D, iron, and selenium.

The health benefits of salmon span a wide range of preparations, too. Whether you love lox in the morning, a pouch of pink salmon for a quick lunch, or a fillet of sockeye for dinner, you’re getting the health benefits of salmon. 

And when those purchases come with the MSC blue fish label, you can be sure the ocean also benefits.

MSC certified salmon at Whole Foods Market


MSC certified salmon is good for the ocean

There are several ways to harvest salmon, like drift nets, set gillnets, purse seines, and trolling. But regardless of catch method, in the Alaska salmon fishery, they all have one thing in common: MSC certification. 

In 2000, the Alaska Salmon Fishery became the first fishery in the US to achieve MSC certification. Over the last 25 years, salmon fishers in Alaska have made it easy for seafood eaters to find delicious, sustainable salmon all over the world with the MSC blue fish label. 

But sustainable salmon fishing goes back much further than a quarter of a century. In fact, requirements for a sustainable salmon fishery were written into the state’s constitution in the 1950s. 

“Fish, forests, wildlife, grasslands, and all other replenishable resources belonging to the State shall be utilized, developed, and maintained on the sustained yield principle….”
-Article VIII, Alaska State Constitution
Sustainable Salmon Fishing of Bristol Bay, Alaska

 

This focus on long-term sustainability has led to incredible innovation and effective management of the fishery. For instance, fish biologists have the ability to make changes to fishing regulations in real-time, even if it’s the middle of the season, in response to changing conditions or new data. 

This kind of responsive management means that no matter what situation arises, the health of salmon populations will be prioritized.

So the next time you see the MSC blue fish label on a package of wild Alaska salmon—whether it’s canned, from the fresh fish counter, or lox at the deli—you’ll know it came from a fishery that has valued sustainability since day one. 

Blue Foods: The role of seafood in feeding a growing global population

Blue foods are those we get from water: fish, seafood, and seaweed (algae). In other words, it's food we harvest from the ocean, rivers, and lakes, and includes wild and farm seafood.

Blue Foods: The role of seafood in feeding a growing global population
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How can you help the ocean this World Ocean Day and beyond?

There are many actions you can take, both big and small, to contribute to a healthier ocean. Here are three easy ways to begin:

  1. Learn more about how your everyday purchases have the power to help protect our ocean through sustainable choices.
  2. Look for and support companies, products, and organizations that help care for our ocean’s health and wildlife.
  3. Attend or volunteer at a World Ocean Day event! There are events all year long, so you're not limited just to the month of June.