More recent important science:
New review shows bottom trawling is sustainable (when well-managed)
Seafood from bottom trawling can have a lower impact than other types of animal protein–especially when it comes from a well-managed fishery.
Officially bogus: Bottom trawling does not release as much carbon as airline travel
Remember the headlines claiming fishing released as much carbon as airline travel? Those claims are Officially Bogus with the release of a new paper.
Do large MPAs benefit tuna and fishermen via spillover?
Medoff et al. 2022 claims that the largest MPA in the U.S. benefited both tuna populations and fishermen via spillover. However, the science does not stand up to careful scrutiny and we doubt their results.
Marine protected areas don’t help tuna, new paper shows
Researchers find that the Phoenix Islands Protected Area did not meaningfully boost tuna populations.
More scientific explainers:
Buying Sustainable Seafood: A new shopping guide for the grocery store
Read our guide to confidently buy sustainable seafood at your local grocery store without pulling out your phone to look something up.
Fish populations around the world are improving
A cornerstone paper assembling data from around the world shows that fish populations, representing half of seafood, are improving. Fishery management works.
The future of food from the sea, explained
In 2050, Earth will need a lot more food to feed 2 billion more people. A landmark study calculates how much the ocean can supply sustainably.
What kind of MPAs are most effective to reduce bycatch?
A new paper compares bycatch outcomes under contrasting protected area management. How does 30×30 stack up?
Ocean Optimism?
New research says we have the policy blueprints to rebuild marine life by 2050. Decarbonization needs to happen quickly, though.
Fishery management is composed of small, concrete actions—which ones are best?
New research suggests a swiss-cheese model for sustainable fishery management, along with rebuilding plans.
Impacts of fishing forage fish on the fish that feed on forage fish
How does fishing forage fish affect their predators? Should we catch less to improve predator populations? New research offers some clues.
The science of Seaspiracy
The new Netflix Original film, Seaspiracy, makes some bold claims. We dive into the science and correct several bits of misinformation.
Fact Checking Myths
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about fisheries and seafood. We fact check some common myths below.
What will Fisheries be like in 2048?
No scientist would support the assertion that all fish stocks will be collapsed by 2048. There are threats, however.
How many Fisheries are Overfished?
According to the U.N., 78.7% of fish come from a sustainable fishery. Of all monitored fisheries, 66% are sustainable, while 34% are overfished.
How much U.S. Seafood is Imported?
Misleading seafood deficit statistics have played a central role in Trump’s trade war. 35-38% of seafood consumed in the U.S. is produced domestically.
Our most popular stories
Eating Plants & Seafood
Conscious eating can and should include several different kinds of food. A plant-based diet has lower impact relative to a standard diet that includes lots of animal protein, but a diet that includes fish can have as low, or even lower impact.
Fish populations around the world are improving
A cornerstone paper assembling data from around the world shows that fish populations, representing half of seafood, are improving. Fishery management works.
Ocean Optimism?
New research says we have the policy blueprints to rebuild marine life by 2050. Decarbonization needs to happen quickly, though.
The future of food from the sea, explained
In 2050, Earth will need a lot more food to feed 2 billion more people. A landmark study calculates how much the ocean can supply sustainably.
From fishery science to fake news: how ocean misinformation evolves
How does fishery science go from hard data to misconstrued, clickbait headlines? The spread of misinformation is troubling.
Ethics, impact, and nutrition: A critical review of plant-based meat
Plant-based meat is all the rage, but it needs a critical review if it is going to realize the benefits touted by its brands.
Ray Hilborn’s thoughts on Seaspiracy
Ray Hilborn comments on the Netflix Original film, Seaspiracy. Dr. Hilborn is a world-renowned fishery scientist and sustainability expert.
The science of Seaspiracy
The new Netflix Original film, Seaspiracy, makes some bold claims. We dive into the science and correct several bits of misinformation.
Ray Hilborn or Max Mossler write a newsletter with updates every once-in-a-while. It’s a good way to keep up with our stories.
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Seafood 101
We’ve developed this guide to give you insight into every aspect of fish as food for people around the world. Click on any heading to skip ahead or click through each post—the guide was written to read like a lesson that builds on each previous installment.
Seafood in a Global Context
Commercial Fishing
People & Fish
Our most recent stories
Third critique of Sala et al. 2021 published by Nature
Yet another critique of the poor science in Sala et al. 2021 – the most covered fisheries research of the last decade.
Is ropeless fishing gear a whale-safe solution for American Lobster?
A deep dive into current and future ropeless gear technology to protect whales from entanglement.
New review shows bottom trawling is sustainable (when well-managed)
Seafood from bottom trawling can have a lower impact than other types of animal protein–especially when it comes from a well-managed fishery.
Officially bogus: Bottom trawling does not release as much carbon as airline travel
Remember the headlines claiming fishing released as much carbon as airline travel? Those claims are Officially Bogus with the release of a new paper.
First Nationwide Assessment of Non-Federally Managed Fisheries in the U.S.
A new study provides the first-ever nationwide assessment of non-federally managed fisheries in the United States.
Recent tuna reports take differing perspectives on status of global tuna
The status of world tuna fisheries is debatable. From a biological and environmental sustainability perspective, they are mostly doing great. From a management and labor perspective, not as great.
Do large MPAs benefit tuna and fishermen via spillover?
Medoff et al. 2022 claims that the largest MPA in the U.S. benefited both tuna populations and fishermen via spillover. However, the science does not stand up to careful scrutiny and we doubt their results.
Marine protected areas don’t help tuna, new paper shows
Researchers find that the Phoenix Islands Protected Area did not meaningfully boost tuna populations.
The fastest fish in the ocean are speeding toward sustainability
Oceanic tunas, billfishes and some sharks are showing great improvement in their IUCN Red List conservation status but more work is needed.
A fresh look at China’s seafood sustainability in 2022
China’s fishing industry gets a lot of criticism for its distant water fleet–but how do they manage their domestic fisheries? We investigate.
The Seafood Watch downgrade of American lobster, explained
Seafood Watch downgraded the sustainability rating of American lobster. This controversial decision will have ripple effects across the seafood industry.
‘Salmon Wars’ in the media undermines sustainability
Salmon Wars is making waves as a poorly-reported, fearmongering book about the farmed salmon industry.
What is the population status of small, pelagic forage fish worldwide?
What is the status of forage fish populations around the globe? New research shows stability, but also complicaiton.
Critique of Sala et al. 2021 Published by Nature
Sala et al. 2021 has its first official response. Read why Hilborn and Kaiser think poor assumptions and framing MPAs as a panacea is problematic.
Sustainable sushi: evaluating the 9 most popular species in the U.S.
Sustainable sushi can be difficult to find. This post combines science and sourcing expertise to evaluate the nine most popular sushi items in the US.
Ray Hilborn or Max Mossler write a newsletter with updates every once-in-a-while. It’s a good way to keep up with our stories.
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