Blue Seafood Guide

The Blue Seafood Guide (BSG) is a list of sustainable, earth-friendly seafood.

A number of fish stocks that are being depleted is increasing due to rising sea temperatures caused by global warming, overfishing and IUU fishing (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated). According to the UN agency FAO, fish stocks, fished at unsustainable levels, account for approximately 37.7% of the total.*1The state of Japan's fisheries resources is even more serious, with 48.9% of the total fish stocks under concern of its sustainability.*2

However, it is known that with proper fisheries management, drastically depleted fish stocks can also recover. For example, it has been reported that Atlantic bluefin tuna and Pacific bluefin tuna, which had once been listed as endangered species, have successfully recovered in a short period of time as a result of strict, science-based fisheries management, mainly by the international organisation RFMOs *3, in cooperation with other countries.

　The BSG is based on the idea that prioritised consumption of sustainable seafood promotes the recovery of depleted seafood stocks while supporting the fishing industry as a whole. By listing only recommended seafood, the BSG is a positive program to protect marine resources and increase sustainability while having fun.

The selection of sustainable seafood is based on the principles of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and our own scientifically defined methodology in line with international standards. The FAO agrees with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 14: ‘Life below water’, and aims to achieve a sustainable society. The BSG has been selected as an advanced case study by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). *4

With the motto ‘Delicious, fun and earth-friendly’, the BSG provides knowledge and information to help people make sustainable choices. Let’s give the oceans a break by prioritising abundant, delicious and environmentally friendly Blue Seafood so that we can pass on the healthy oceans to the future generations.

*1　FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)　 https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/06690fd0-d133-424c-9673-1849e414543d

*2　Fishery Agency of Japan https://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/j/kikaku/wpaper/r05_h/trend/1/t1_3_1.html

*3　RFMOs (Regional Fisheries Management Organizations) https://www.un.org/oceancapacity/content/rfmoas-map

*4　United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 https://oceandecade.jp/ja/refs/activity/ver1/productive-ocean/2/

Selection criteria for Blue Seafood

The selection criteria for Blue Seafood are as follows. All are based on a rigorous, science-based assessment of the principles for demonstrating sustainability, 1 stock status, 2 ecological impact and 3 management systems.

1 Seafood that has passed Blue Seafood Choice's sustainability assessment criteria.
2 Seafood selected as Best Choice in Seafood Watch published by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, USA, and available in Japan.
3 Seafood from fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC, Headquarter/UK) that is available in Japan.
4 Fish and shellfish from aquaculture farms certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC, Headquarters/Netherlands) that are available in Japan.

※ Sailors for the Sea Japan is an official partner of Seafood Watch, the Monterey Bay Aquarium in the USA, which has an internationally renowned reputation for its marine resource assessment.

※ The BSG is a charter member of the Global Seafood Ratings Alliance (GSRA), which consists of representative seafood rating programmes from around the world. The GSRA has established a Minimal Viable Standard, which provides a uniform minimum line of assessment criteria. Rating programmes that are members of GSRA adhere to principles in accordance with the UN FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, which are agreed by national programmes to meet uniform international standards.