Environmentally conscious nutrition - Attention when buying fish

When buying fish, inform about condition of stocks

25/01/2013

Fish is generally regarded as a healthy alternative to meat and has enjoyed growing consumer popularity in recent years. And more and more exotic fish are landing on the plate of the Germans. For stocks of each species, increased demand is often a significant threat. Conscious buying behavior enables customers to make a significant contribution to protecting endangered fish stocks, explains the Fish Information Center (FIZ).

„More and more consumers want to know where the fish comes from and whether it comes from sustainable fishing“, reports the FIZ and refers to sources of information such as the Internet database „Fish stocks online“. It offers prepared data from the Thünen Institute (Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries) „on the state of fish stocks, which are important for the German market.“ Also be here „all other aspects that may be relevant to the assessment of sustainable fisheries“, so the comments on „Fish stocks online“. In total, the site recorded around 130 fish stocks relevant to the German market from more than 30 fish species worldwide at the end of 2012. Here consumers should learn „how to make their fish purchasing so that enjoyment and sustainability can not be mutually exclusive.“

Environmentally conscious fish purchase commanded
Environmentally conscious behavior when buying fish is urgently needed in view of dwindling stocks. Consumers should therefore be aware of the stocks in which fishing area their fish come from before purchasing. The FIZ and the Thünen Institute have compiled a joint brochure for this purpose and presented it at the Green Week Agricultural Fair in Berlin. In addition to the online information portals, the new brochure offers „Sustainable fish purchasing - but how?“ Explanatory notes on fishing methods and status of fish stocks in the different fishing areas. For example, in the north-east Atlantic alone, there are 13 different cod stocks, all of them in different states, according to the FIZ communication.

Information on fish stocks
Online stand next to the website of the FIZ, the Thünen Institute and the information portal „Fish stocks online“ also offers from environmental organizations such as Greenpeace or the WWF available. Information leaflets such as the Greenpeace Fish Guide and the WWF Fish Buying Guide are always available on the smartphone and can be viewed directly when shopping. If customers were to behave a little more environmentally and responsibly here, the decline in fish stocks could possibly be halted, according to the experts. But passing on all responsibility to the end customer does not seem sufficient here. Governments are also called upon to contribute to the protection of stocks by enforcing strict fishing quotas. Under certain circumstances, fishing prohibitions should be imposed here so that endangered fish stocks can recover. (Fp)

Also read about fish:
Mothers are burdened with mercury by fish consumption
Fish and folic acid during pregnancy
Fat fish prevents diabetes and heart disease
Young and healthy with omega-3 fatty acids

Picture credits: Jakob Ehrhardt