Get Ready to Experience Certified Seafood.
October was National Seafood Month, but ASC-certified seafood is giving us a scary good reason to celebrate well into the holidays!
Join Coastal Seafoods, Fortune Fish & Gourmet and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) as we dive into the world of responsibly farmed seafood. Delicious grouper, succulent shrimp and flavorful ASC-certified salmon await!
Celebrate certified seafood with us Oct. 15 – Nov. 15. Look for:
- Special ASC-certified menu items at Coastal Seafoods’ Market & Café
- Exciting offers and promotions on Coastal Seafoods and Fortune Fish & Gourmet products
- Social media activations and giveaways, sharing the benefits of responsibly-raised seafood
- More on sustainability, aquaculture FAQ and how to shop for the most responsible products on the market, below!
@coastalseafoodsmn | @asc.usa | @fortunefishgourmet
So, what exactly is aquaculture and the ASC?
Let’s start with aquaculture – the practice of farming seafood. It’s like agriculture, but done with fish, shellfish and seaweed. Farmers who work in aquaculture breed and harvest plants and animals in freshwater or salt water, recreating natural cycles on the farm. Aquaculture has been practiced for over 3,000 years.
Aquaculture also happens to be the world’s fastest growing food-producing sector and plays a crucial role in helping to feed our planet as populations increase. Today, farmed seafood makes up over 50% of the seafood we eat in the United States.
With growth comes great responsibility and that’s where the ASC comes in.
As a global nonprofit organization, ASC provides the world’s leading certification and labeling program for responsibly farmed seafood. ASC drives the strictest standards in the industry to ensure requirements are being met from the the farm through every step of the supply chain.
We work with local farming communities, retail companies and food advocates to minimize the impacts of seafood farming and ensure positive outcomes for the environment, surrounding communities and seafood lovers like you.
ASC’s standards – and your purchase of certified seafood – helps to protect our oceans, coasts and wildlife. Read more about what we do.
What is responsible aquaculture?
The bigger the aquaculture industry becomes, the more impacts it can have. That’s why it’s important to look for seafood that is certified as responsibly raised when shopping.
Just as with any farming – from chicken to cattle to corn – considerations must be made when it comes to care of the environment and surrounding habitats, animal feed and welfare, chemical use, affects on local communities and more.
ASC certification ensures the strictest standards are being followed from farm to store. Requirements include monitoring water quality, keeping sea beds clean, caring for fish health, preserving biodiversity, providing fair treatment and pay for workers, and eliminating seafood fraud.
Should I be eating farmed or wild-caught seafood?
You’ve already learned that more than half of seafood eaten worldwide is raised by farming and that number is only growing! Studies have shown no significant nutritional differences between farmed and wild seafood, while each offers a variety of sustainable, high-quality options. Furthermore, over 33% of wild fish stocks have reached their biological limit due to overfishing. Responsible farming helps relieve the pressure on wild populations while providing equally nutritious fishes.
Seeking a balance allows for both farmed and wild-caught seafood to be an option on your dinner plate. So what’s the difference?
Wild-caught seafood comes from wild habitats like oceans, lakes and rivers, and typically consumes a diet found in those environments.
In aquaculture, farmed seafood is also raised in oceans, lakes, rivers (and even on land) but as with all farmed animals, they are cared for in a more controlled way. Many species of seafood thrive on farms, especially when raised in a well-managed environment. Their diets vary depending on the type of species being farmed, location and other factors, but consist of a special blend of feed formulated by nutritionists for optimal growth and nutrition.
To learn more about ASC’s new Feed Standard requiring 100% sustainable ingredients, click here. Whichever you choose, we recommend always sourcing responsibly! Look for ASC’s sea green label when shopping farmed seafood and MSC’s blue label when shopping wild.
Get Involved!
Want to make sustainable choices about the seafood you eat? These resources can get you started:
- Learn about the ASC and its partners
- WATCH: What is aquaculture and how it can help feed the world
- Learn about Coastal Seafoods’ sustainability commitment
- Learn about Fortune Fish & Gourmet’s sustainable seafood policy
- Start cooking! Visit ASC’s full collection of responsible seafood recipes
- Try a fan favorite: Coastal Seafoods’ blackened shrimp tacos with Creole remoulade slaw
- Prefer to eat out? Visit Coastal Seafoods’ Market & Café
Not sure where to start? Just ask! Your fishmonger is happy to recommend the best certified, responsibly farmed and sustainably caught seafood options for the season. It’s important to know where your seafood came from. Look for the sea green label to verify the seafood you’re buying was raised responsibly.
Find a Coastal Seafoods near you
Learn more about Fortune Fish & Gourmet
Sea what’s cooking at ASC USA