FishChoice adds octopus to list of curated seafood options
FishChoice’s addition of octopus reflects rising demand for sustainable seafood and industry efforts to manage fisheries responsibly
FishChoice, a website that helps businesses and consumers find sustainable seafood options, has added octopus to its curated species list, joining mahi, snapper, grouper, shrimp, crab and squid. As with the other six species, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership’s Target 75 initiative identified octopus as a species of importance to FishChoice.com users and stakeholders.
Global demand for octopus has steadily increased over the past few decades and is projected to continue to grow. However, the industry has encountered issues with supply, with some catches declining in recent years and this limited availability driving prices up. These past few years have also seen a vested interest in exploring octopus aquaculture, a practice that was traditionally difficult given the unique life cycles and dietary needs of these cephalopods. All of this industry activity is playing out amidst a unique fishery that is often difficult to study.
“Worldwide, there are efforts underway to improve these fisheries and responsibly manage these resources,” wrote FishChoice.com in a news release. “The new FishChoice.com will feature species profiles for these eight-armed invertebrates, providing opportunities for suppliers and buyers to connect to ensure that their responsible sourcing commitments extend to octopus products.”
Could squid aquaculture fill the gap from declining cephalopod stocks in Japan?
The new FishChoice.com website will launch in the fall of 2024 and will make it easy to find sustainable or improving products from high-demand species – including crab, grouper, mahi, snapper, shrimp, squid and now octopus. The site will include sustainable products with Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative-benchmarked certifications or Seafood Watch green or yellow ratings, and improving products from FIPs, AIPs and other on-the-ground improvement efforts facilitated by trusted NGOs.
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