Sustainable Seafood in San Francisco
October is National Seafood Month: Here’s How to Celebrate in San Francisco
Why San Francisco?
October is National Seafood Month, a time to take a closer look at how our seafood choices impact marine ecosystems. For a coastal city like San Francisco, where seafood plays a huge role in both culture and cuisine, it is the perfect place to participate in ocean-friendly practices. Whether you’re grabbing a fresh fish taco from a beachside vendor, ordering paella at a nice restaurant, or sitting on the pier with a warm bowl of clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl, seafood is a part of daily life here. Tourists come from all over the world to visit places like Fisherman’s Wharf, but it’s not just about visitors. Even if we don’t eat seafood every day, most of us enjoy it at least occasionally, whether it’s grilled salmon for dinner, sushi takeout, or fried shrimp horderves at a weekend gathering. Because of its high amount of protein and a plethora of health benefits, seafood is becoming a popular part of modern diets. Each of us, whether we are frequent or infrequent consumers of seafood, has a role to play in protecting our oceans ecosystems.
Along the Pacific Coast and in the waters surrounding the Bay, scientists are studying everything from ocean acidification and rising sea levels to fish migration patterns and marine mammal health, all of which are connected to the food we eat. For example, changes in ocean temperature and chemistry are causing some fish species to shift their ranges. This is relevant here in San Francisco since there have been many recently reported whale deaths in the area. In fact, California Academy of Sciences states, “To date this year, 21 gray whales, two unidentified baleen whales, and one minke whale have died in the greater San Francisco Bay Area region, with the cause of eight of the gray whale deaths determined to be suspect or probable vessel strikes.” Researchers from The Marine Mammal Center also monitor populations of California Sea Lions, which serve as indicators of ocean health. When sea lions are found malnourished or sick, often due to lack of prey like sardines and anchovies, it signals underlying issues in the marine food web, including a combination of overfishing and climate-related disruptions.
What is sustainable seafood?
Sustainable seafood consumption refers to “the consumption of sustainable amounts of seafood that was caught or farmed in ways that do not harm single species or ecosystems, so that today’s and future generations are equally able to benefit from marine resources” (Richter and Klockner 2). In other words, sustainable seafood includes fish and shellfish that are caught or farmed in ways that consider the long-term health of marine populations and surrounding ecosystems. Industrial fishing often prioritizes short-term yield over ecological balance. While we cannot change the fishing industry on a large-scale level, there are things we can do to help!
Human pressure on the ocean continues to rise. Some of the biggest threats from unsustainable fishing include: overfishing, bycatch and entanglement, habitat destruction, and food web disruption. Overfishing is a result of removing fish faster than they can reproduce, leading to a decrease in population size and more species becoming endangered. Bycatch and entanglements refer to the unintended capture of marine mammals, sea turtles, and birds by harmful fishing gear. According to the Seafood Watch program by the Monterey Bay Aquarium (Figure 1), practices such as bottom trawling in which heavy fishing nets are dragged across the ocean floor, flattening coral reefs and seafloor structures that have been developing for over centuries, causing habitat destruction. Finally, food web disruption occurs when apex predators like sharks are removed, which results in an unbalanced system where species lower on the food chain begin to overpopulate and deplete other important parts of the ecosystem, an vital ecological concept. Research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that predator loss can lead to trophic cascades, where changes at the top of the food chain affect species all the way down to plankton. These disruptions threaten the biodiversity and resilience of marine environments.
Figure 1. Seafood Watch Program Pamphlet
On the bright side, not all fishing and farming methods have major environmental impacts, and there are many responsible practices that reduce environmental harm while still supporting fishery communities. Olaniyan (2015) outlines a clear contrast between destructive traditional fishing methods and more sustainable modern practices. Harmful techniques such as using chemicals, explosives, or extremely fine mesh nets result in the killing of aquatic life, including juveniles and non-target species. In contrast, improved practices like regulated trawl nets, motorized vessels, and cold storage systems enhance selectivity, reduce waste, and promote safer handling of fish. The paper emphasizes that modernizing fishing gear, enforcing regulations, and educating fishers are critical to balancing human needs with ecological preservation (Olaniyan, 2015). Figure 2 from Lucchetti et al. (2023) illustrates the many benefits of fishing technology innovations across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. It highlights how advances such as bycatch reduction and improved gear efficiency not only support marine biodiversity, but also enhance economic, livelihoods, and conservation.
Figure 2. Fishing Technology for a Sustainable Exploitation of Marine Resources
Figure 2. Fishing Technology for a Sustainable Exploitation of Marine Resources
How can you help?
Well, one way to make sustainable choices easier is to look for trusted certifications. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an international nonprofit, provides one of the most widely recognized labels in the industry. The MSC Blue Fish Label means the seafood is wild-caught from fisheries that meet strict environmental standards. It ensures that fish populations are healthy, that fishing minimizes environmental impact, and that fisheries are managed effectively. According to MSC’s website, over 738 fisheries are now engaged in their program, and 2,625 improvements have been implemented by MSC-certified fisheries. As of this year, more than 20% of global marine wild catch is MSC-certified!
Figure 3. Certified Sustainable Seafood MSC Label
Figure 3. Certified Sustainable Seafood MSC Label
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, celebrating National Seafood Month sustainably can also mean supporting local businesses and fisheries. Restaurants like Fish in the Box which serves a variety of sushi dishes, and Hook Fish Co. are great places to enjoy a meal you can feel good about. As a student at USF, these are great options for seafood restaurants that are on a budget and easy to get to from campus! To find these restaurants, I used the free Seafood Watch app. It provides up-to-date recommendations on which seafood options are “Best Choices,” “Good Alternatives,” or ones to “Avoid,” based on the latest environmental science and fishery practices. When eating out, ask restaurants where their seafood comes from and how it’s caught for a chance at making a difference in our local community.
When cooking at home, consider using more sustainable seafood species like mussels, clams, Pacific rockfish, or U.S. caught sardines. Mussels, specifically, are one of the most environmentally friendly proteins available. “There is no requirement for feed and antibiotics for mussel cultivation, and the GHG emissions associated with suspended mussel production are a fraction of that associated with producing terrestrial meat or even farmed salmon, which is considered to have a relatively low GHG output” (Yaghubi et al. 2). Seafood offers many health benefits as it can be very nutritious. If you’re inspired to take action in your own kitchen, cooking with sustainable seafood is a great way to make a difference while enjoying delicious meals. Whether you’re new to cooking seafood or not, here are a few yummy and sustainable recipes to try:
Mussels and Pasta with Creamy Wine Sauce
In a seafood-loving city like San Francisco, supporting marine research means ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy all that the ocean has to offer. As National Seafood Month comes to a close, let’s carry that awareness while making choices that honor our responsibility to protect and support healthier oceans.
Works Cited
Kim, Eun‑A, Kyeong‑Ha Gwon, and Dong‑Wook Lim. “The Psychology of Sustainable Seafood Consumption: A Comprehensive Approach.” Foods, vol. 6, no. 10, 2017, article 86, MDPI, https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/6/10/86.
Marine Stewardship Council. “What Does the Blue MSC Label Mean?” MSC, https://www.msc.org/what-we-are-doing/our-approach/what-does-the-blue-msc-label-mean.
California Academy of Sciences. “California Academy of Sciences Confirms 24 Dead Whales in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2025.” California Academy of Sciences – Press Releases, 21 July 2025, https://www.calacademy.org/press/releases/california-academy-of-sciences-confirms-24-dead-whales-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. Seafood Watch. https://www.seafoodwatch.org.
Lombardi‑Boccia, Gianni, et al. “Farmed Mussels: A Nutritive Protein Source, Rich in Omega‑3 Fatty Acids, with a Low Environmental Footprint.” Nutrients, vol. 13, no. 4, 2021, article 1124, MDPI, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/4/1124.
Lucchetti, A., Melli, V., & Brčić, J. (2023). Innovations in fishing technology aimed at achieving sustainable fishing. Frontiers in Marine Science. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1310318/full
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Aquatic Food Webs.” NOAA Education – Resource Collections, https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/aquatic-food-webs.
Olaniyan, R. F. “Fishing Methods and Their Implications for a Sustainable Environment.” Fisheries and Aquaculture Journal, vol. 6, no. 3, 2015, article 1000139, https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/083b/01fecdae2baeb95998bcb50a92e6e36f3623.pdf.
The Marine Mammal Center. The Marine Mammal Center, 2025, https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/
