Overfishing, Destructive But Avoidable; Alaska Leads The Way
With overfishing quickly becoming a major environmental issue on the world stage, it is important for the socially and environmentaly conscious consumer to be aware of not only the quality and flavor of the fish they are about to enjoy, but the history of how it reached their plate. According to reports by the World Bank and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, commercial fishing in the past century has led to the depletion of the world's global fish stocks to such a degree that there has been a measurable reduction in the amount of fish available to be caught.
The term, overfishing, itself refers to the decline of fish stocks to below what is generally accepted as a sustainable level, resulting in detrimental and potentially permanent implications for ecosystem biodiversity and for the breeding of specific populations. Because of the ramifications of overfishing for current and future generations, there has been a noticeable expansion in the movement for sustainable seafood in the past decade, that which has been fished or harvested through means that will not negatively impact the local ecosystem. A main player on the sustainable seafood scene, Alaska has long been committed to delivering seafood that is not only of the highest quality, but which is the product of practices protecting Alaska's unique picturesque environment and marine biodiversity.
In the effort to prevent overfishing and to monitor and preserve local habitats, the state of Alaska has designated more than 40 Marine Protected Areas, which are protected from commercial fishing or all bottom contact gear. Scientists from the International Pacific Halibut Commission, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and he Naional Marine Fisheries Service meet annually to examine the fisheries resources and how the stocks affect, and are in turn affected by, the ecosystem. Through these research efforts the state then establishes a limit on the amount of fish that may be caught without adversely impacting the local environment or biodiversity. Implementing quotas then allows the state to protect its natural resources and ensure against commercial overfishing.
As a result of the state's diligence in adhering to and enforcing sustainability measures, none of Alaska's groundfish or salmon are classified as overfished. One can be assured that in purchasing Alaska seafood, the meal they are about to enjoy will not only be fresh, and of the highest quality, but a product of practices ensuring its availability for future generations as well as the preservation of the majestic environment from which it came.
Alaska's fishing industry leads the world in environmental protection measures. From efforts to improve traceability to strict enforcement procedures, Alaska continually shows how committed it is to preserving the ocean for the next generation.
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