Sustainable Seafood in Singapore – 5 Seafood Swaps to save our Seas

PUBLISHED July 14th, 2015 03:45 am | UPDATED February 2nd, 2016 06:15 am

Mankind has depended on the oceans and its bounties for as long as we know. As foodies residing in Singapore, we know how much seafood, primarily fish, is prevalent in our food culture – fish head curry, fish noodle soup, otah, and even sashimi… need I say more? However over the years, overfishing has quickly posed a threat to many fish populations, as the constant harvests barely provide the species time to reproduce. Rising prices, diminishing food supplies, and disruption of food webs are just a few of the negative consequences of overfishing. And as much as we love to eat, learning about sustainable seafood is increasingly important.

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Label, Image courtesy of MSC

So in order to ensure the safety of marine ecosystems and access to seafood, here’s one way we thought you could start making a difference. We’ve rounded up alternatives – particularly those certified as sustainably farmed by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) – to the 5 most overfished seafood species in the world, so you can make a more informed decision the next time you hit up your favourite seafood joint.

Bluefin Tuna

Bluefin Tuna, Image Courtesy of World Wildlife Fund

The high prices it can fetch in the Japanese markets due to its reputation for being a delicacy, the Bluefin Tuna is one of the most overfished species in the world. With the International Commission of the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) confirming that Atlantic Bluefin tuna stocks have declined by 72% in the Eastern Atlantic and 82% in the Western in the last 40 years, [source] it looks like we’ve got to do everything we can to keep this species around before its too late.

Alternative species: MSC Certified Albacore Tuna, Mackerel

The firm, oily flesh of Mackerel resembles that of the Bluefin Tuna when grilled or seared, but if you’re not ready to give up tuna sushi,  – when the lean flesh of the Albacore Tuna shiro maguro is lightly cooked Tataki style, it becomes similar to the luscious texture of otoro or fatty tuna.

Atlantic Salmon

Salmon is one fish that’s grown to be common on our plates with its versatility across raw and cooked dishes. Well, the oceans aren’t too happy about that. Despite being a migratory fish, few of them can escape being caught – only 20% of Atlantic Salmon headed up to Greenland for the winter returned to the southern rivers of Maine in the past year, meaning that only an extremely small portion of salmon will be able to reproduce for the next season. [source]

Farmed Salmon, Image courtesy of World Wildlife Fund.

On top of that, farmed salmon is barely a more sustainable alternative – many salmon farms contribute to pollution by pumping out waste and toxins directly into the ocean, and 2.5 to 5 kg of wild fish is required to produce 1 kg of salmon, meaning that we are only putting more pressure on the environment. [source]

Alternatives: MSC Certified Wild Alaskan Salmon, Trout

When you’re doing the grocery shopping, look for Wild Alaskan Salmon instead, as the fishing methods used (like seines, gillnets, and hook-and-line trolling gear) have little impact on marine environments. Trout also proves a great alternative to Atlantic Salmon, as its slightly rich flesh is similar to that of its pink counterpart, and it tastes great when cooked with herbs.

Chilean Sea Bass/Pantagonian Toothfish

While not suffering from being overfished anymore, the Chilean Sea Bass is commonly farmed in the Mediterranean, and its carnivorous nature requires its fish feed to consist of smaller types of fish – posing a problem for sustainability of these smaller fish and the ecosystems they support. Sea Bass are also frequently caught with pelagic trawls, which frequently kill other types of marine life like dolphins.

Alternatives: Black bream, sea bream, Alaskan Sablefish

Available all year round, the Black Bream and Sea Bream prove more common than the Chilean Sea Bass, which is usually only found in colder, Sub-Arctic climates. The flesh of the Black Bream is also known to be slightly sweeter while and boasting the same level of versatility as the Sea Bass – making it not very hard to replace at all.

Atlantic Cod

Atlantic Cod, Image Courtesy of Joachim Muller, via National Geographic

With many stocks of Atlantic cod being drastically overfished in the past couple of decades (multiple U.S stocks were close to extinction in the ’90s), it’s about high time we give Atlantic Cod a break.

Alternatives: Pollack, MSC Certified Alaskan Pollock

Either of these white fish (yes, they’re 2 different species, we checked) are solid replacements for you – the flesh is delicate, flaky, and strongly flavoured. Pollock is also supposed to be healthier with 200-500mg of Omega-3 fatty acids per 3 ounce cooked portion – that’s roughly twice the amount of fatty acids your usual serving of cod! [source]

King/Tiger Prawns

Farmed prawns are a huge no-no. King or Tiger prawns are farmed intensely in the tropics (primarily Thailand) with the use of bottom trawling, a large-scale fishing technique that basically involves a net sinking to the ocean floor, and sweeping everything in its wake, including ecosystems and habitats that have been there for centuries. Needless to say, the fishing process is truly detriment of the environment, so we recommend a couple of more sustainable options for your next seafood dinner.

Alternatives: Scottish Langoustines/California Spiny Lobsters, Spencer Gulf King Prawns or Cold Water Prawns from Estonia, Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Norway

Psst, don’t think that sustainable seafood swaps are that inaccessible. MSC-certified products can be easily found at Giant, Cold Storage, Jason’s, and NTUC. For more information on MSC-certified products in Singapore, please see the MSC’s website.

Header Image courtesy of the ISS Foundation.

Where do you get your sustainable seafood in Singapore? Let us know in the comments.