Seafood Watch

Seafood Watch is a rating organization for the status of seafood resources run by the Monterey Bay Aquarium in the United States, providing information based on science to promote sustainable seafood.

Monterey on the west coast of the United States once had a thriving fishing and seafood processing industry, mainly focused on sardines. However, overfishing caused the resources to be depleted in the 1950s, and the last cannery was closed in 1972. In 1984, the site was transformed into the Monterey Bay Aquarium, whose mission is to pass on the lessons of the past and conserve the marine environment. Since its opening, the aquarium has launched various projects, including wildlife protection and educational programs. Among these, Seafood Watch began in 1997 when a list of seafood caught with environmental consideration was distributed to visitors as part of the special exhibition "Fishing for Solutions." The program was fully launched in 1999.

What's unique about Seafood Watch is that it rates the sustainability of seafood resources from around the world that are commonly consumed in North America using three colors: "red," "yellow," and "green."

・Red = avoid:
Seafood that you should not buy because it is depleted due to overfishing, or because it is caught or farmed in a way that is harmful to other marine life and the environment.
・Yellow = good alternative (possible):
Seafood that is okay to buy, but you should be careful about how it is caught or farmed and managed.
Green = best choice:
Well-managed and produced through responsible fishing and aquaculture, these are the seafood we recommend first if you are looking to buy.

In addition, certified fish species are indicated in "blue" and consumers are encouraged to purchase certified seafood. Certified products can be rated as equivalent to or higher than "yellow" according to Seafood Watch's classification. Consumers and businesses can use these ratings to find seafood that has been produced sustainably. Seafood Watch is one of the most well-known rating tools for checking the sustainability of seafood.

The ratings are regularly updated based on the latest resource information, the impact on ecosystems, and the management status of fisheries, and are published on the official website. A pocket-sized booklet is also distributed to consumers. By establishing clear standards for environmental sustainability and working with major buyers with purchasing power, Seafood Watch has become a leading source of science-based information to promote sustainable seafood.

Currently, Seafood Watch is reaching out to local communities through other aquariums and zoos, with advice from relevant scientific and industry experts, and is expanding its network of partnerships with food companies, restaurant chefs, and non-profit organizations.

As business partners of Seafood Watch, some companies have incorporated Seafood Watch into their seafood sourcing policies. For example, in 2007, Compass Group North America, a major catering company, used Seafood Watch's rating tool to announce a commitment to sourcing 2017% of its seafood responsibly by 100. Such corporate commitments have a significant impact on society.

In Japan too, Seafood Watch's efforts serve as a leading example for promoting sustainable seafood by utilizing rating tools suited to the Japanese situation, based on objective, science-based information.

<References>
Seafood Watch official website:https://www.seafoodwatch.org/
Monterey Bay Aquarium official website:https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/