IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR OCEANS
SUSTAINABILITY
U.S. fisheries are big business, providing jobs and recreation and keeping our coastal communities vibrant. In fact, the United States is a global leader in responsibly managed fisheries and sustainable seafood.
From recreational and small-scale tribal fishermen to large-scale vessels harvesting and processing millions of tons of fish, U.S. fisheries are scientifically monitored, regionally managed, and legally enforced under national standards of sustainability. Managing sustainable fisheries is a dynamic process that requires constant and routine attention to new scientific information that can guide management actions.
Fish and shellfish are renewable resources—they can reproduce and replenish their populations naturally. Because of this, we can sustainably harvest fish within certain limits without depleting the resource. Fishery management is the process of using science to determine these limits—some fish are caught while some are left to reproduce and replace the fish that are caught.
Taken together, these steps make up the U.S. science-based fisheries management process, which sustainably manages fisheries to keep the marine environment healthy, fish populations thriving, and our seafood industry on the job.
HELP LOCAL ECONOMY
Florida ranks among the top 12 U.S. states for fresh seafood production. Florida fishermen catch more than 84 percent of the nation’s supply of grouper, pompano, mullet, stone crab, pink shrimp, spiny lobsters and Spanish mackerel.
Seafood is sustainable when the population of that species of fish is managed in a way that provides for today’s needs without damaging the ability of the species to reproduce and be available for future generations. If you buy fish managed under a U.S. fishery management plan, you can be assured it meets 10 national standards. Florida fishermen are required to follow federal and state laws when harvesting seafood.
Looking for great Florida seafood? There might be a local seafood retail market just down the road. Florida’s commercial fishermen are continually harvesting seafood from the Gulf and Atlantic coasts and providing their fresh catch to local seafood retail markets.
More than 80 types of seafood are harvested off Florida’s coasts — fresh, safe, wholesome Florida seafood caught by fishing families that for generations have taken great pride in their work. When shopping or dining out, ask for “Fresh From Florida” seafood. You’ll help local fishermen and local economies.
