What does it mean for fish and seafood to be sustainable? A fishery is considered sustainable when it meets certain criteria laid out by the Initial Environmental Evaluation, according to guidelines set by the Marine Stewardship Council. These include whether it can continue indefinitely at a reasonable level, whether it maintains the diversity, structure, and function of the ecosystem on which it depends, and whether it is managed responsibly in conformity with local, national, and international laws and regulations.

According to such criteria, no fish or seafood from West Africa is currently recognized as sustainable. The Trade Hub is working to change this by developing and supporting only those projects that have been certified as sustainable. For more on our sustainable fish and seafood initiative, read the Tradewinds article on the Trade Hub’s participation in the International Boston Seafood Show.