Fort Collins, CO – FishChoice.com, a nonprofit dedicated to helping the seafood supply chain buy and sell sustainable seafood, will begin featuring FishWatch and Fish Stock Sustainability Index (FSSI) scores, programs of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, or NOAA Fisheries, as part of the information resources on sustainable seafood available at FishChoice.com.
“As our nation turns the corner on ending overfishing and rebuilding our domestic fisheries, it’s important for consumers to be aware of the investment and progress being made to sustain our domestic fisheries and ensure healthy, sustainable seafood is available for generations to come,” said Eric Schwaab, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries. “We are pleased FishChoice has included FishWatch as part of their informational resource base to enable their customers to track and support our sustainable seafood journey.”
NOAA’s FSSI scores track the sustainability of the Nation’s key commercial and recreational fish stocks and complexes with respect to their current population size and harvest rates. The score takes into account if the overfishing and overfished statuses are known for a stock and if these statuses are above or below prescribed levels. The scores range from zero to a maximum of four, increasing as additional assessments are conducted, overfishing is ended, and stocks rebuild to optimal levels. FishChoice will include the FSSI scores alongside available NGO ratings and certifications from organizations that include the Seafood Watch Program at Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Marine Stewardship Council.
“We know that seafood buyers want sustainability information from the government along with information from the NGO community. We think that integrating the FSSI scores with the other sustainability information on our product detail pages will further help eliminate confusion around responsible sourcing,” says Richard Boot, President of FishChoice.
The FishChoice.com website is primarily a sustainable seafood directory where buyers can find wild and farmed products mostly from U.S. and Canadian producers. The seafood directory currently has over 1,300 product listings from well over 200 suppliers across 150+ species of seafood with new products added every week. The website is free to use, requires a simple registration process, and has amassed over 2,400 registered users in its first two years. The website includes species profiles, descriptions of sustainable seafood programs, and other information for the seafood supply chain.
Learn more about the NOAA Fisheries – FishChoice partnership at http://www.fishchoice.com/Resources/Sustainable-Seafood-Partners/NOAA-Fisheries-FishWatch.aspx
About FishChoice.com
FishChoice.com launched in 2009 to provide aggregated seafood sustainability information combined with a directory of associated sustainable seafood products for the supply chain. FishChoice works directly with the Seafood Watch Program at Monterey Bay Aquarium, Blue Ocean Institute, SeaChoice, New England Aquarium, FishWise, the Marine Stewardship Council, and Food Alliance in providing science-based, up-to-date sustainable seafood information, recommendations, and certified products for distributors, chefs, restaurants, and grocers. FishChoice, Inc. (FCI) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is funded by private foundations and donors. For more information please visit http://www.fishchoice.com/Resources/Press-Room.aspx
About NOAA FishWatch
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is the leading U.S. authority on marine fisheries science and management. NOAA Fisheries manages over 500 stocks under 10 National Standards that include minimizing bycatch, protecting marine habitats, and setting appropriate annual harvest levels based on scientific assessments and surveys. FishWatch.gov, a NOAA-sponsored website, helps answer common consumer questions about seafood and profiles favorite species, including salmon, shrimp, scallop, and crabs. Read more about NOAA Fisheries and its role in the science and stewardship of our Nation’s living marine resources at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov
Source: FishChoice.com