Humans have What kind of collateral damage is done been fishing for thousands to the environment due to seafood of years, but production? in the last few Overf ishing: to fish a body of water to an decades, we extent that it upsets the ecological balance of the have created ecosystem. It is reported that 75% of fisheries are technologies that have allowed us to fish deeper, fishing at or over capacity further, and more efficiently than ever. As a result, Bycatch: accidentally capturing different species commercial fishing has caused dramatic fluctuations while fishing for a specific species. By catch is in fish populations that could lead to a total inevitable; when techniques used are so effective at collapse in their numbers and the entire ocean capturing all species, sea turtles, dolphins, sea What is our campus doing? ecosystem. As the demand for seafood continues otters, sharks, sea birds, etc. getting caught in UC Santa Cruz is committed to providing to increase, the only solution to prevent the nets and drowning become a common occurrence. sustainable food products to students its so they destruction of the oceanic environment is may enjoy delicious, fresh, and healthy meals. In sustainable seafood. order to reach the Real Food Commitment of 40% Real food by 2020, signed by the Chancellor in What is sustainable seafood? 2011, the Food Systems Working Group has Seafood that is fished or farmed in a manner that worked with UCSC Dining and a myriad of NGOs does not jeopardize the long-term structure and to find the most sustainable and local seafood function of that ecosystem sources. At least 50% of the seafood in the dining halls has been caught in an ecologically sound How is our seafood caught today? manner. Seafood is either wild caught or farmed. Disruption of the natural ecosystem: Scientific Farmed seafood is from aquaculture, the process research has found that bottom trawling is one of of breeding, raising, and harvesting fish or shellfish the most destructive human actions to oceans, as in ponds, lakes, rivers, or the ocean. Half of the it drags and kills vast amounts of corals, fish, seafood eaten worldwide is farmed today. sponges, etc. along the bottom floor. Killing essential species of an ecosystem, such as coral, is Wild caught seafood comes from commercial destroying entire habitats for hundreds of different fisheries that use Fishing methods such as purse creatures. seining, bottom trawling, long lining, and gillnetting, Particle run-of f: Aquaculture farms have some of which are highly detrimental to the ocean difficultly with pollutants, nutrients, chemicals, and ecosystem and causing huge collateral damage to pharmaceuticals that seep into surrounding the environment. environments and change the natural biochemical balance of the system.

What can I do to help? Get involved with the Food Systems Working Group! The Food Systems Working Food Systems Working Group Every single one of us has the power to save our Group (FSWG) is a student led organization on Education and Engagement Series oceans and start a movement for ecologically campus that is working hard everyday to obtain sound seafood. Here are some steps on how to healthy, ecologically sound, fair trade, and local food get started: for UC Santa Cruz. The chance is here and now Eat lower on the food chain. Species that are for you to start a movement for a sustainable food plentiful and lower on the food chain are able to system! Email us at [email protected] or call reproduce quickly and sustain their populations. 831-459-3675 Lower food chain fish include sardines, anchovies, mussels, oysters, and wild Alaskan salmon. Fun facts:

Learn about where your food comes from. • 93% of seafood is imported into the United The greatest form of combating unsustainable and States annually destructive fishing and farming methods is becoming • 1/3 of seafood sold in supermarkets and familiar with where and restaurants are mislabeled today how your seafood was • Scientists believe that up to 90% of top harvested. Today, this can predatory fish species, such as sharks, be easily accomplished have been removed from the ocean due to through eco-labels and commercial fishing guides, which are designed to help us make informed choices about supporting sustainable food sources. More information on sustainable Buying from local fish markets is also an easy way seafood at these websites: to support small-scale fishermen and know exactly www.montereybayaquarium.org where your seafood is coming from! www.fishwatch.gov www.mdc.org Ask restaurants and supermarkets to provide sustainably sourced seafood. As consumers, we have the right to consume food that nourishes not only our bodies but the environment as well! Asking businesses to serve ecologically sound seafood will show that consumers care about the environment and support businesses that care about it too.