Sustainable Seafood Initiative
Food systems & the Sea
Fish provide a source of essential nutrients and contribute to healthy diets across the world. The inevitable rise in the world’s population will bring severe demands on the supply of fish, and we must be prepared to secure sustainable capture fisheries and aquaculture production to meet this demand.
The CMBC’s Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SSI) focuses on the intersection of sustainable fisheries management with seafood supply systems to address a grand challenge:
How can we provide sufficient seafood to feed the crucial protein and micronutrient needs of a growing population, while safeguarding the oceans so that they can provide food and nutrition security today and in the future?
Photo credit: Oriana Poindexter
VISION
To advance ocean stewardship and human well-being through sound science and effective engagement across the seafood landscape.
Mission
The Sustainable Seafood initiative aims to serve as a catalyst for broad engagement towards sustainable and equitable seafood systems by focusing on seafood sustainability science, capacity development, and effective dissemination of information to all relevant stakeholders and audiences.
OBJECTIVES
CMBC's SSI aims to serve as a catalyst for broad engagement and corporate responsibility towards sustainable and equitable seafood systems by focusing on three objectives:
Science & Conservation
By leveraging our expertise in fisheries, oceanography, climate, socio-economics, culture, and policy; to continue to build upon complementary scientific competence in seafood systems and markets; expand our research partners, opportunities and offerings; and invest in research collaborations across the sustainable seafood space.
Engagement & Communication
Facilitating engagement on sustainable fisheries, seafood supply chains, seafood sustainability, and culinary innovation by offering programming and events to foster exchange, create access, and build trust among stakeholders and to address the communication gap between academics, policy makers, industry, the culinary community, and seafood consumers.
Education & Capacity-development
Strengthening access to information needed to improve sustainability in fisheries and seafood supply chains by offering a portfolio of educational and capacity-development opportunities and materials for graduate students at Scripps and for multiple audiences (chefs, industry professionals, fishermen, the public) interested in engaging in the sustainable seafood space, (including workshops, short courses , academic classes, ocean to table events, etc.)
Themes
Founded on the principle that sound science is the foundation for effective conservation and management of our ocean resources, the initiative aims to generate and communicate relevant information towards addressing issues on three broad themes:
- Climate and seafood
- Nutrition, food security and equity in seafood systems
- Cultural and culinary approaches to seafood
Our work connects key disciplines of sustainable development (such as environmental, economic, and social/cultural dimensions) across subsistence, small-scale, middle-ground, and large-scale fisheries. The initiative bridges CMBC’s expertise in fisheries biology, ecology, economics, and policy with the strength of NOAA Fisheries SWFSC’s expertise in fisheries science and management to create a positive impact in our food systems. Our targeted audiences include academia, industry, culinary professionals, policymakers, and the general public.
PROGRAMS
Sustainable Markets
Seafood markets lie at the intersection of fisheries management, marine conservation, and human culture and consumption patterns. Yet, purveyors of seafood are often not at the table in spaces of fisheries management and policy, resulting in a loss of knowledge and lack of valuable tools. The SSI team is currently working on the following projects:
- Procurement of sustainable seafood in retail industry
- Diversity, availability, and price of seafood in San Diego
- Value of ecolabels as a conservation tool
Ocean to Table
The SSI and partners host events that build community around seafood sustainability. Over the years, SSI and CMBC have hosted seafood events that bring together scientists, fishermen, chefs, distributors, managers, and the public under the joint purpose of exchanging knowledge, expanding horizons, and creating solutions. Join us!
Zero waste
Maximizing the nutritional, financial, and community value of our local fisheries is essential for sustainable and mindful seafood practices. When considering the challenge of food waste, building on cultural approaches to eating seafood and cultivating practices that utilize the whole fish are essential. The SSI team is currently working on the following projects with partners:
- Underloved species: expanding seafood palates
- Full utilization: eating beyond the filet
- Non-culinary uses of seafood byproducts
Sustainable Aquaculture
In order to feed a growing population, aquaculture produced protein sources will become increasingly important. As this industry expands, it is vital to ensure that its growth prioritizes environmental sustainability. The SSI is currently focused on land-based seaweed aquaculture from a variety of different perspectives. Researchers are optimizing growth and culture conditions for native California seaweeds, which possess vast culinary interest and market demand. CMBC affiliate Jennifer Smith is currently developing a strategy for cultivation of a red seaweed that vastly reduces methane emissions in livestock. Scientists are also working to better understand the carbon sequestration potential in cultivated and natural seaweed beds, among other innovative solutions.
EDUCATION & CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
PUBLICATIONS & RESOURCES
PublicationS
Virdin, J., Basurto, X., Nico, G. Harper, S., Mancha-Cisneros, M.M. et al., (2023). Fishing for subsistence constitutes a livelihood safety net for populations dependent on aquatic foods around the world. Nature Food. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-023-00844-4
FAO, Duke University & WorldFish. 2023. Illuminating Hidden Harvests – The contributions of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc4576en
Robinson, J.P.W., Mills, D.J., Asiedu, G.A., Byrd, K., Mancha-Cisneros et al. M.M., et al. (2022). Small pelagic fish supply abundant and affordable micronutrients to low- and middle-income countries. Nature Food. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-022-00643-3
Theses & Dissertations
Ferrer, E. M. (2023). Climate-fishery interactions in coastal ecosystems. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4jj1892q
Castillo, A. (2022). Tracing Life History Patterns of Pacific Grenadier (Coryphaenoides acrolepis) off Baja California with Otolith Microchemistry. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/54f071wf
Cavole, L. (2021). Fish otoliths and fisher knowledge as mobile monitors of environmental conditions: an integrated approach. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3531j2t0
Blincow, K. M. (2021). Addressing applied fisheries ecology questions across species, fishery, and global scales. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8qb7t0sp
Ray, K. D. (2020). Essays in Natural Resource Economics. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5sf158d5
Bonito, L. T. (2020). U.S. Exempted Fishing Permits: Role, Value, and Lessons Learned for Adaptive Fisheries Management. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2286v47t
Sato, K. (2017). Implications of deoxygenation and acidification for deep sea urchins in southern California. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3ck922b5
Rubio-Cisneros, N. (2014). A historic and multiscale approach to study the ecosystem services of coastal wetlands in Northwest Mexico. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/868722sr
Bernardo, C. (2014). Small-Scale Fisheries: From a Broad Overview to a Case Study. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3ds6659n
Johnson, A. (2011). Fish, fishing, diving and the management of coral reefs. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8cz488jh
Navarro, M. (2011). Decolonizing our plates : analyzing San Diego and vegans of color food politics. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6143t2xp
Aburto-Oropeza, M. (2009). The role of nursery habitats and climate variability in reef fish fisheries in the Gulf of California. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3vn8n6d5
Murray, J. (2007). Constrained marine resource management. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5hz346nx
Finley, M. (2007). The tragedy of enclosure : fish, fisheries science, and U.S. foreign policy, 1920-1960. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/39z1k94p
CApstone Projects
Wallace, B. (2023). Local Ocean: A Film Exploring Community through Local & Sustainable Seafood. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2g18c2jj
Walton, E. (2023). The Value of Value Added Finfish: A Market Solution to Food Inequity https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4xx8x84d
Bui, K. (2022). Connection Through Food, Fish and Culture: Benefits Gained for Chefs Involved in a San Diego Seafood-Based Community Food Distribution Program During COVID-19. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1nb4b226
Garner, G. (2022). Converting Fish Waste to Fish Bait in California Trap Fisheries. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8c37q9dv
Gouache, C. (2021). Proposed Guidelines on Pre-Arrival Risk Assessments of Foreign Vessels: Using Lessons Learned to Strengthen Implementation of the UN FAO Agreement on Port State Measures. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8091w57h
Rogers, K. (2021). Examining the impact of the European Union’s carding scheme to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing on the Republic of Panama’s seafood trade. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/18m2394g
Warner, K. (2021). An Analysis of Global Fisheries and Factors Limiting Sustainable Practices for U.S. Seafood Imports. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7kq9x052
Mahan, E. (2020). Seafood is off the Chain! How do we integrate Blockchain Technology for Seafood Traceability? https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4385m32n
Millin, A. (2020). Indigenous Aquaculture: A Tool to Support Food Security. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9r00g9kc
Rowe, A. (2020). San Diego Fish Tales: Stories and Recipes from the Local Sustainable Seafood Community. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/432574sg
Bruce, J. (2019). Tracking refrigerated transshipment vessels to inform the Food and Agriculture Organization's Agreement on Port State Measures. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8x61j0jx
Koch, E. (2019). Fishing in Troubled Waters: Fisheries Conflicts Impacts on Human Security and Social-Ecological Wellbeing. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2xc3t004
Montgomery, K. (2019). Opportunities and Barriers Facing Offshore Finfish Farming in the U.S. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2xj3477x
Muller, L. C. (2019). Big Fish in a Small Plate - A Bigeye's Journey Toward a Head-to-Tail Utilization in San Diego. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2jf209z5
Soto, M. (2018). Have we achieved “Ocean to Plate?” Determining the availability of San Diego- sourced seafood in the city’s seafood restaurants. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/56s893bx
Newman, A. (2017). Eat with a Porpoise: Measuring the Effectiveness of Seafood Certification & Rating System Programs to Inform a Vaquita-Friendly Seafood Market. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/94m5r33j
Preston, C. (2017). InFishWeTrust.com: Localizing Sustainability. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8vp251sh
Rosen, N. (2017). The Cooperative Community of Punta Abreojos: Seeking Solutions to the Pressures of Small-Scale Fishing. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/55x4t285
Swiech, K. (2017). Assessing the Opportunities and Challenges of Creating a Sustainability Certification for the Marine Aquarium Trade. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9jg9r3x6
Drury, F. (2016). Seafood Direct Marketing from Fishermen to Consumer at Southern California Farmers' and Fishermens' Markets. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0vb3g6f4
Le Fol, G. (2016). An Analysis of Fish Bycatch in the California Large Mesh Drift Gillnet Fishery. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9d94j735
Meigs, H. B. (2016). The Biological and Market Potential of Farming Pandalus platyceros Along the Pacific Coast. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1wq6w685
Tripp, E., & Masury, K. (2016). Follow Your Fish: Traceability Case Studies of American Caught Seafood. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5m78k80p
Martin, C. (2015). Genetic Identification of Octopodidae Species in Southern California Seafood Markets: Species Diversity and Resource Implications. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0sp5g76g
Poindexter, O. (2015). The Fish Market Chronicles: A Pan-Pacific Survey. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/44p4235c
Barnes, D. (2014). Connecting Local Chefs with Olympia Oysters. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4nt8n5j9
Mullen-Ley, K. A. (2013). The Future of Seafood Labeling Under the World Trade Organization: Lessons from the Dolphin-Safe Tuna Dispute. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1f51d15k
Nee, A. (2013). New Technology and Market Incentives in the Conservation of the Vaquita (Phocoena sinus). https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4ns6q569
Rich, G. (2013). Locally Landed San Diego: Understanding San Diego's Commercial Fishery and the Possibility of Creating a Community Supported Fishery. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/44x7g1zh
Anderson, K. (2012). Barca a Bocca: The Future of San Diego Seafood. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/49c377r4
Estrada Parker, P. (2012). The Gulf of California Sardine Complex: Challenges to Sustainability. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6jm604t1
Umansky Greenstein, J. (2012). IATTC and ICCAT: Understanding Drivers of Change for Bycatch Mitigation in Two RFMOs. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/08s1g97g
Grant, A. (2008). An Analysis of the Market for Certified Sustainable Sea Urchin in San Diego. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6kq3d49m
Gabiati, M. (2009). A Business Plan for the Profitable Implementation of Radio Frequency Identification Systems for Farm Raised Fish. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1hs9n64t
Anglin, L. (2005). Preparing for a Deep Blue Revolution: The Development of Aquaculture in the US Exclusive Economic Zone. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2f29z44g