Sustainability
Why should Sustainable Seafood be important to us?
Seafood sustainability is a critical practice that must be monitored to protect against causing severe environmental damage and the danger of exhausting natural resources. It has been noted that approximately 80 percent of fisheries are fully exploited, overfished, depleted, or recovering from depletion. Currently, many traditional fisheries around the world are threatened with collapse, due to unsustainable fishing practices and habitat damage. Many fisheries, however, remain healthy and productive thanks to certified governing organizations overseeing good sustainable practices. Sustainable seafood comes from responsibly managed fish farms and marine fisheries that maintain healthy fish populations and ecosystems.
At Sea Star Seafood, the importance of sustainability and our responsibility as an organization is reflected in our procuring practices. We make every effort to process fish harvested from only sustainable resources. Most all our offerings originate from MSC and BAP certified fisheries. Sea Star Seafood takes great pride and responsibility to insure its commitment to sustainable practices wherever possible.
Do you know the difference between ACC and MSC?
Aquaculture Certification Council, also known as ACC, is a non-governmental, non-profit body established to certify social, environmental and food safety standards at aquaculture facilities throughout the world. ACC's mission is to certify aquaculture facilities that apply "Best Aquaculture Practices" to ensure social and environmental responsibility, food safety, and traceability throughout the production chain. Currently best aquaculture's practices under the ACC pertain to farm raised species including shrimp, channel catfish and tilapia. These species have potential of enjoying the greatest market success.
Marine Stewardship Council, also known as MSC, is an independent non-profit organization with an ecolabel and fishery certification program. To indicate that someone is MSC certified, packages must contain the MSC blue logo to help direct consumers that the fish was caught in a sustainable place. This form of sustainability measurement is so that consumers will be able to easily take environmental concerns into account when shopping.
*The main difference between MSC and ACC is that MSC takes into account the whole ocean (global ecology) while the ACC is only focused on farm raised products.
