This episode features Ryan Bigelow, the Director of Projects for the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions. He discusses the seafood industry, the alliance's role, and the importance of conservation. From consumer to industry perspectives, the conversation delves into the challenges of sustainable seafood practices.

Tune in to learn about the Seafood Watch program and how to make informed seafood choices for a better ocean.

Website: https://solutionsforseafood.org/

The Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions is dedicated to improving sustainability in the seafood industry by fostering collaboration between NGOs and businesses. With approximately 150 members from 22 countries worldwide, the Alliance works towards enhancing the sustainability of seafood. It serves as a platform for experts from various organizations to address key topics such as improving fisheries, social responsibility in seafood, and advancing sustainability efforts.

One of the primary functions of the Alliance is to provide guidance and resources for businesses seeking to enhance their sustainability practices in the seafood industry. By closely collaborating with NGOs and businesses, the Alliance aims to ensure all stakeholders are aligned in promoting sustainable seafood practices. The organization also facilitates discussions, collaborations, and the sharing of best practices to drive positive change within the industry.

Through initiatives like Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs), the Alliance supports fisheries in their journey towards sustainability by setting goals and timelines for improvement. Additionally, the Alliance places a strong emphasis on social responsibility within the seafood industry, addressing issues such as human rights violations, unsafe working conditions, and gender inequity. By integrating social responsibility considerations into sustainability efforts, the Alliance recognizes the interconnected nature of environmental and social issues within the seafood supply chain.

The Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions plays a crucial role in promoting sustainability and responsible practices in the seafood industry by fostering collaboration, providing guidance, and advocating for the integration of social responsibility principles into sustainability initiatives.

The Alliance for Seafood Solutions, led by Director of Projects Ryan Bigelow, provides essential guidance on various seafood industry topics, with a focus on sustainable seafood practices. Working with a diverse group of NGOs and businesses, the Alliance aims to improve global sustainability standards. This guidance is vital for businesses looking to enhance their sustainability efforts and align with industry standards.

Additionally, the Alliance actively supports fishery improvement projects (FIPs) to address environmental and social issues within fisheries, such as overfishing. By providing guidance on participating in FIPs, the Alliance helps fisheries progress towards sustainable practices.

Another significant aspect of the Alliance's work is addressing social responsibility in fisheries, including human rights violations and unsafe working conditions. The Alliance emphasizes integrating social responsibility into seafood sustainability efforts to ensure these issues are addressed alongside environmental concerns.

The Alliance collaborates with industry stakeholders, NGOs, and experts to develop comprehensive guidance documents that address the complex challenges faced by the seafood industry. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, the Alliance promotes responsible and ethical practices in the seafood supply chain.

Building trust with industry partners is a crucial aspect of the Alliance's work. By collaborating with businesses in the seafood industry, the Alliance promotes sustainability and addresses social responsibility issues. Active listening, collaboration, and providing valuable resources without immediate financial expectations are key strategies to build trust and engage effectively with industry partners towards shared goals.

In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, Andrew and Jen Dianto Kemmerly from the Monterey Bay Aquarium discuss the Seafood Watch program. Jenn, the Vice President of Global Ocean Conservation, shares her journey to working with the program and the importance of making informed choices when it comes to seafood. They discuss the challenges of finding sustainable seafood and how the Seafood Watch app helps consumers make better choices.

Tune in to learn more about the Seafood Watch program and how it is helping to protect the ocean.

Seafood Watch: https://www.seafoodwatch.org/

The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of sustainability in the fishing industry and highlights how individuals can play a role in promoting sustainability by asking for sustainable seafood options. Andrew Lewin, the host, discusses the dire situation in some cases, where fish populations are overfished and other species and ecosystems are impacted. This calls for action to ensure the long-term health of the environment and the fishing industry. Jennifer Dianto Kemmerly explains that consumer demand can drive sustainability, as individuals can ask questions about the sustainability of seafood and express their preference for environmentally responsible sourcing. In fact, over 85% of the largest retailers and restaurant groups in the US have commitments to sourcing from environmentally responsible fisheries and aquaculture operations, showing that consumer demand can have a significant impact on industry practices. By caring about sustainability and asking for sustainable seafood options, individuals can contribute to the conservation of marine species and ecosystems.

According to the episode, social media has become a valuable tool for communicating information about sustainable seafood and engaging with interested individuals. In the past, organizations like the aquarium relied on traditional methods such as handing out paper pocket guides to educate the public about sustainable seafood. However, with the rise of social media, they now have a new and effective way to reach a larger audience.

Social media platforms provide a means for organizations like the aquarium to share information and updates about sustainable seafood practices. By utilizing platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, they can communicate directly with individuals who are interested in this information. This allows them to engage with their audience and provide ongoing updates and educational content.

One of the benefits of using social media is that it allows for continuous engagement with the audience. By posting content regularly, organizations can ensure that their message continues to show up in front of their followers. This increases the likelihood that individuals will continue to engage with the content and stay informed about sustainable seafood practices.

Additionally, social media provides an opportunity for organizations to address specific questions or concerns that individuals may have. By responding to comments and messages, they can provide personalized information and guidance. This can be particularly helpful for individuals who may have specific dietary restrictions or concerns about the environmental impact of certain seafood choices.

Furthermore, social media allows organizations to collaborate with other stakeholders and influencers in the sustainable seafood movement. Celebrity chefs and other influential figures can help amplify the message and reach an even wider audience. By partnering with these individuals, organizations can leverage their platforms and increase awareness about sustainable seafood practices.

Overall, social media has revolutionized the way organizations communicate about sustainable seafood. It provides a platform for ongoing engagement, personalized communication, and collaboration with other stakeholders. By utilizing social media effectively, organizations can reach a larger audience and promote the importance of responsible seafood sourcing to ensure the long-term health of our oceans and coastal environments.

In the episode, it is discussed that the market has the power to drive demand for sustainable seafood. This means that consumers, whether they are dining out or shopping for seafood, have the ability to make a difference by asking questions and showing that they care about sustainability. By inquiring about the sustainability of the seafood they are purchasing, consumers can influence the decisions of restaurateurs and retailers.

The podcast highlights that if enough people start asking these questions and expressing their concerns about sustainability, businesses will take notice. In fact, over 85% of the largest retailers and restaurant groups in the US have made commitments to sourcing from environmentally responsible fisheries and aquaculture operations. This demonstrates that consumer demand for sustainable seafood has already driven significant changes in the industry.

The importance of this market demand for sustainable seafood is emphasized throughout the episode. It is stated that without a persistent, loud public voice demanding sustainable and environmentally responsible seafood, the opportunity for improvement in the industry would be lost. Market pressure is crucial in driving these improvements and ensuring that seafood is sourced in a way that does not deplete fish populations, harm other species, or damage ecosystems and habitats.

The episode also mentions that the market demand for sustainable seafood has led to partnerships between the marine conservation community, businesses, and seafood industries in various countries. These partnerships aim to help seafood suppliers make improvements in their practices to meet the market demand for sustainability. Examples of such projects include working in Chile to improve farm salmon production and in Vietnam to improve tiger shrimp production.

Overall, the episode highlights the power of the market in driving demand for sustainable seafood. By expressing their concerns and making sustainable choices, consumers can contribute to a healthier environment and industry by ensuring the long-term sustainability of seafood resources.

Julie Kuchepatov is seeking to fight gender inequality within the seafood industry. She launched the Conch podcast where she interviews women at various levels of the seafood supply chain to tell their stories and show how women can be successful in the seafood industry. 

I chat with Julie to talk about how she started her organization, Seafood and Gender Equality, and launched her podcast. This is an interview you don't want to miss as Julie is such a great storyteller. 

Connect with Julie:

Website: https://www.seafoodandgenderequality.org/
Podcast: https://www.seafoodandgenderequality.org/theconch
Instagram: @seafood_and_gender_equality
Twitter: @sdg5forseafood

Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
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Does Subway use real Tuna in their Tuna sandwiches? That is the question that many headlines read throughout social media sites recently as people were sharing variations of a New York Times article along the same lines. 

The purpose of the article was to test whether a lawsuit filed by some people in California about what was in the Tuna sandwich at Subway; however, the experimental design was weak at best. 

The "experiment" came back inconclusive so the result was that they didn't know the answer based on the results. Unfortunately, the headlines looked damning to Subway without any evidence that the restaurant chain doesn't use real Tuna in their sandwiches. 

Link to article: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/19/style/subway-tuna-sandwich-lawsuit.html

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How can seafood consumers truly buy sustainable seafood? The first step is to decrease the number of middle people in the supply chain so that most of the money spent can support the smaller-scale fishers who do most of the work and follow the regulations for responsible fisheries. 

Sitka Salmon Shares is an Alsakan Seafood business that flips the current fisheries model on its head and provides a better alternative to seafood consumers. 

Nic Mink is the co-founder of Sitka Salmon Shares and he joins me on the podcast today to discuss how he started the business and how he overcame challenges to provide a responsible and diverse array of species. 

Links:
https://sitkasalmonshares.com/

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There has been a breakthrough in the Lobster Fisheries conflict between the Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Fishers in Nova Scotia, Canada. A conglomerate of Mi’kmaq Nations have purchased the largest seafood corporation in Atlantic Canada for a 50% stake in the company. The Mi’kmaq Nation had a partner in the deal, a company based in British Columbia called Premium Foods. The company owns a number of popular seafood brands in Canada and Internationally.

The deal marks the largest investment by Indigenous communities in the seafood industry. It also marks a huge win for Indigenous people who have been locked in a violent battle with non-Indigenous fishers over the past few months.

A group of Non-Indigenous fishers has been harassing Indigenous fishers who started fishing lobster legally and are not bound by seasonal closures as are their Non-Indigenous counterparts. Protests have turned from shouting matches to setting cars on fire as well as lobster storage houses in violent protests along the southern shores of Nova Scotia.

The Indigenous fishers have the right to fish year-round as it states in a government-indigenous treaty signed all the way back in the 1700s. The agreement was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1999.

The purchase of Clearwater is a separate matter than the local lobster fishery, but it will have a positive generational impact for the Mi’kmaq Nation.

Links To Articles:
1) https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/first-nations-chief-calls-1-billion-clearwater-deal-a-generational-acquisition-1.5181778

2) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/seafood-giant-clearwater-convicted-gross-violation-lobster-fishery-1.4971558

Register for the Mindful Conservation Conference: 
https://www.absolutelysmashingllc.com/mindful-conference

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Check out the Shows on the Speak Up For Blue Network:

Marine Conservation Happy Hour
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k4ZB3x
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2kkEElk

Madame Curiosity
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2xUlSax
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2V38QQ1

ConCiencia Azul:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k6XPio
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k4ZMMf

Dugongs & Seadragons:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lB9Blv
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lV6THt

Environmental Studies & Sciences
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lx86oh
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lG8LUh

Marine Mammal Science:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k5pTCI
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k1YyRL

Projects For Wildlife Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Oc17gy
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/37rinWz

Ocean Science Radio
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3chJMfA
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3bnkP18

The Guide To Mindful Conservation: Dancing In Pink Hiking Boots:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/31P4UY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3f7hDJw

A great article was written in TechCrunch about how Start-Ups may be changing the future of how we consume seafood. Check out the article after you listen to some of the great Start-Ups tackling the problems.

Link to article

Do you think the seafood industry can be saved? Let me know what you think in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: https://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to be more eco-friendly? Buy certified eco-friendly products from our affiliate partner the Grove Collaborative: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

Speak Up For Blue Instagram

Speak Up For Blue Twitter

Check out the Shows on the Speak Up For Blue Network:

Marine Conservation Happy Hour
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k4ZB3x
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2kkEElk

ConCiencia Azul:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k6XPio
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k4ZMMf

Dugongs & Seadragons:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lB9Blv
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lV6THt

Environmental Studies & Sciences
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lx86oh
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lG8LUh

Marine Mammal Science:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k5pTCI
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k1YyRL

Buying seafood is a difficult process these days, especially if you would like to buy sustainably caught seafood. There are so many things to take into account such as farmed vs wild caught, how the seafood was caught, where it was caught, and who caught it.

Then, when you finally think you have everything solved with apps such as Seafood Watch and programs such as Ocean Wise, you find out that the seafood you bought has a 48% chance (in Canadian cities) that it may not be the seafood you thought you were buying, or as it was advertised. In other words, seafood fraud is a big problem. 

So how do you buy seafood that solves all of the problems highlighted above? So search for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label. MSC works with 400 fisheries around the world throughout the entire supply chain to ensure its 30,000 products that carry the MSC label are sustainable.

Lucy Erickson, the Science Communications Manager for MSC, joins me on the podcast to discuss how the MSC program works and to give us hope in fisheries for the future. 

Do you buy MSC products? Share your experiences in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean. 

Links Associated With MSC:

https://www.msc.org/

https://www.msc.org/en-us/

MSC Fisheries Standards: https://www.msc.org/standards-and-certification/developing-our-standards/the-fisheries-standard-review

Avoid Being Duped By Seafood Fraud:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2196872-a-third-of-fish-sold-is-mislabelled-heres-how-to-avoid-being-duped/#.XJUJXBM9tkw.twitter

The Trump administration is holding a set of public listening meeting between August 31st and November on the topic of allowing commercial fishing in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). You might be asking "why would anyone allow commercial fishing in MPAs that are probably designed to protect habitats from overfishing?" And you are completely right. There really is no reason for this type of deregulation.

The reason the Trump administration is using is because of the country's seafood trade deficit. The Seafood trade is measured based on the value of the country's exports vs the country's imports. 

I take the time to run through why Dr. Martin Smith form Duke University says the US should have a Seafood Trade deficit.

Source

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

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A crazy story emerged out of Kuwait recently where a fish market was shutdown because it pasted googly eyes on its fish that it was selling. I am not lying...this actually happened. Insane...right?!?!