Coastal Management Fall 2017

2017 Coastal Opinions
Seafood

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By Jeff Witteman, Finnian Swann, and Desire’e Teran

There are many types of dangerous seafood out there, some more dangerous than others. (img)

INTRODUCTION

        In the coastal area, fishing and fishing related activities play a large role in the lives of many. Fishing provides jobs and seafood for many people in the U.S., and provides a huge amount of jobs and food globally. Seafood consumption in the U.S. is on the rise, the latest study from NOAA shows that “2015 was another above-average year for fishing and seafood consumption, with the average American adding nearly an extra pound of seafood to their diet (Ewald 2016). Seafood and fishing are important businesses in the United States, and support the jobs, diets, and recreational activities of many Americans. “Across the nation, U.S. fishermen landed 9.7 billion pounds of fish and shellfish valued at $5.2 billion” (Ewald 2016). This revenue from fishing brings economic activity to coastal communities, which many consider beneficial. However, we must consider the impact this seafood consumption has on the fisheries of the world, because if we do not practice sustainable fishing methods we risk diminishing our ocean fisheries beyond repair. Unfortunately, recent increasing demand for fish and government subsidies for fishing have led to too many boats in the water and not enough fish.

        We recently conducted a public opinion poll containing several questions related to seafood consumption. The poll spanned Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties. The questions related to seafood included what areas participants thought it was safe to eat seafood from, how much seafood they eat, and if they ever inquire about where their seafood comes from when buying it. It’s important to see how the public feels about the world’s fisheries, because it is the preferences and demands of the public that influences how much fish is taken from the ocean and where it is taken from. This report contains the the results and analysis of that poll, as well as an interpretation of the public opinion surrounding fishing and fish consumption in the three counties where surveys were administered.

Overview of Current Situation

        Seafood is an important component of the human diet which acts as not only a vital source of protein, but also provides important nutrients for people living around the world. As vital as these nutrients may be to our diets, recent studies show that while the amount of seafood consumed by the average American is on the rise it still remains below the US recommended daily guidelines. This steady increase in seafood consumption over recent years shows that while the average American eats around 4.77 ounces of seafood a week, this is just over the halfway point to the recommended 8 ounces of seafood per week most of us should be eating according to the USDA dietary guidelines (USDA 2015). One of the largest barriers to reaching this goal of 8 ounces of seafood per week is the overconsumption of other easily accessible protein sources such as chicken and beef. While 15.5 lbs of seafood consumed per year is no small number, it is dwarfed by the American’s  annual consumption of chicken (59.2 lbs) and beef (51.7 lbs) each year (Leschin-Hoar 2016). Comparing the 4.77 ounches of fish per week to the 18.2 ounces of chicken and 15.9 ounces of beef per we can see that fish stocks would have to triple or quadruple to surpass terrestrial proteins. Such a significant increase in demand for fish would no doubt overburden many of our marine ecosystems, many of which are already subject to overharvesting.One of the main reasons that appears to keep seafood from becoming a primary protein source for many Americans is the lack of confidence in where the fish are harvested, and the relative safety to eat the fish from these regions.

        The rise in the consumption of seafood also brings alongside it an increase in the concern of where the fish those fish came from and how they were harvested. The United States is the second largest consumer of seafood in the world, losing only to China. China is the largest supplier of fishery landings and aquaculture supplying 37% of world’s fish, compared to the the United States who is the 5th largest producer at 3% (NOAA 2016). The United States lags even farther behind when it comes to aquaculture where they place 15th compared the China who holds the number one spot with 62% of the global supply. The reason this is so important is that recent polls show that  the country that the seafood was caught in was an important concern for 73% of respondents in a 2016 national pole (Oceana 2016). These concerns can be based around a number of factors such as: the particular species of fish that are caught, where it was caught, how it was caught, or even if the waters they are fish out of are too polluted to eat from. In recent  polls this increased transparency in the seafood supply chain was of concern to 83% of Americans. These issues surrounding how safe it is to eat seafood from specific regions is further enflamed by the media leading to mixed messages on whether or not seafood is safe to consume (Jahns 2014). In order for fishing to become a more prevalent source of food for Americans many barriers such as the sustainability, economics, and safety of harvesting methods need to be considered.

Relevant Survey Questions

Attitudes towards seafood consumption

19. California’s marine fisheries are healthier and more abundant now than 60 years ago.

___ agree ___ disagree ____ I don’t know / unsure

20. When I purchase seafood in a market or restaurant, I ask where it comes from:19. California’s marine fisheries are healthier and more abundant now than 60 years ago.

___ agree ___ disagree ____ I don’t know / unsure

21. I typically eat seafood: (choose only one)

___ daily ___ weekly___ monthly ___ once a year  ___ a few times a year ___ never

22. Over the past 7 days, how many ounces of seafood did you eat (note: a serving the size of a deck of playing cards weighs about 3 ounces)? Approximately ______________ ounces.
23. It is safe to eat seafood from: (select one answer per row)

RESULTS

This graph shows the rising trend in the average pounds of seafood consumed each year by Americans. There is no data for 2016. Analysing our coastal survey results the average amount of seafood consumed per week is 5.15oz.This leads to a yearly total of 16.7 lbs of seafood consumed per year, an increase from previous years

This graph shows the confidence level of how safe it is to eat seafood from various regions. Alaska appears to be the safest region to eat seafood from with a 64% confidence rating, while China appears to be the least safe region with 36% of respondents believing that areas seafood to be unsafe. It should be noted that on average ⅓ of respondents are unsure of the safety level of seafood in any particular region.  

INTERPRETATION

        Our 2017 Coastal Survey shows 47% of the respondents stated that they were unaware whether the health of California fisheries had improved or not over time. A dominant 32% of the 1,449 individuals stated that they never ask where their seafood comes from, and questions twenty-one and twenty-two go on to specify the amount and frequency seafood was consumed. Thirty-six percent of respondents ate seafood weekly and the average amount of seafood consumed was 5.15 oz. It is important to note that the number of individuals who answered the specific amount of seafood consumption in ounces differed by roughly fifty individuals when compared to those who responded to fishery health, seafood purchasing, and consumption. The 2017 Coastal Survey shows 64% of individuals believe that Alaska is the safest region to eat seafood from, while China is viewed as the least safe region at 36%. Many respondents may be disconnected from the methods of seafood processing, being that many of their responses were either unsure or unaware of the matter. This is quite noticeable when examining the bar graph explaining the confidence level consumers standby when asked about various regions.

        The above focuses specifically on the 2017 Coastal Survey; however, it is important to explore other research to discover whether these patterns are similar elsewhere and how alternate data may produce beneficial seafood management. After a warning against Chinese sourced seafood by the FDA, opinions on the safety of seafood significantly changed and approximately 51% of the American responders stated that they make an extra effort to buy food from the United States (Saad 2007). This study goes on to state that 62% of Americans were not too concerned or not concerned at all about United States food safety. Sixty-one percent were concerned about Mexico’s food safety and seventy-four percent were “very/somewhat concerned.” However, it is apparent that the individuals preferred U.S. based products to products obtained abroad by fifty-seven percent (Saad 2007).

        Despite proactive behavior from the individuals in a 2006 poll, it is important to realize that this poll was created after a recent incident of an E. coli outbreak (Jones 2006). As stated previously, the Gallup poll in 2007 involving the proactive shoppers searching for county of origin labeling, was a behavior presented after a U.S. government issues warning about food safety. Although many Americans have exhibited concern for the health and safety of their seafood, this initial concern does not seem to present itself until there is some sort of warning or potential danger posed.

Key Takeaway

        It is apparent from our 2017  Coastal Survey that many coastal residents rely heavily on the seafood industry as a source of food, economic income, and ecological balance (Ewald 2016). With a high amount of reliance on this commodity, it is no surprise that our fisheries are being exhausted. Studies have proven that individuals can and are willing to change to obtain safer, more sustainable seafood practices, it is just a matter of being aware of management practices, avoiding complacency and making those changes (Barclay, 2013). If we do not address the impact of seafood consumption soon, we risk altering our ocean fisheries indefinitely.

REFERENCES

Barclay, Eliza. 2013. Most Americans Eager To Buy Seafood That’s ‘Sustainable’ Retrieved November 7, 2017 from https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/02/11/171743185/most-americans-eager-to-buy-seafood-thats-sustainable.

Ewald, John. 2016. Americans added nearly 1 pound of seafood to their diet in 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2017 from http://www.noaa.gov/media-release/americans-added-nearly-1-pound-of-seafood-to-their-diet-in-2015

Jahns, L., S. K. Raatz, L. K. Johnson, S. Kranz, J. T. Silverstein, and M. J. Picklo. 2014. Intake of Seafood in the US Varies by Age, Income, and Education Level but Not by Race-Ethnicity. Nutrients 6:6060-6075.

Jones, Jeffrey. 2006. Americans Paying More Attention to Food Warnings, Recommendations. Retrieved November 7, 2017 from http://news.gallup.com/poll/25909/Americans-Paying-More-Attention-Food-Warnings-Recommendations.aspx.

Leschin-Hoar, C. 2016, October 31. Hey, Looks Like Americans Are Finally Eating More Fish. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/10/31/499780982/hey-looks-like-americans-are-finally-eating-more-fish.

Saad, Lydia. 2007. Half of Grocery Shoppers Seek “Made in America” Label. Retrieved November 7, 2017 from http://news.gallup.com/poll/28102/Half-Grocery-Shoppers-Seek-Made-America-Label.aspx.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition. December 2015. Available at http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/.

http://www.noaa.gov/media-release/americans-added-nearly-1-pound-of-seafood-to-their-diet-in-2015