Psustainable bait and froth fishing. Flyers of the police forces with sirens explained, at the dawn of May 14, they launched themselves in pursuit of two vans along the road between Portopalo di Capo Passero, a village on the extreme south of Sicily, and Syracuse. An operation against drug trafficking or weapons? No. The load in the sights consisted of 16 specimens of fresh red tuna, seized (and then donated to charity) because they are captured after the stop to accidental fishing, therefore not in compliance with the legislation that assigns precise fishing shares.
A limit case, but which highlights the Difficulty reconciling fishing with sea health and delays in promoting and supporting economic activities that give the fish to grow and reproduce. And while the “Red Tuna shares” issue now debates on the politicians of politics, Numerous experts and ecologists work, in different fields, to protect the future of life in the oceans, threatened by pollution, excessive fishing, climate change.
Sustainable fishing: the fish that feeds the world
A theme closely linked to the fight against hunger in the world: iFish is a pillar in nutrition for billions of people and the raised one has a lower environmental impact compared to the consumption of meat. Fao, in fact, focuses on Blu Transformationa roadmap that promotes sustainable aquaculture to make all the Blue Food (the food of the sea), without compromising marine ecosystems. Meanwhile, in 2022 the world production of aquaculture recorded an absolute primacy, with The production of breeding fish which, for the first time, has exceeded capture fishing (Source: FAO 2024 report).
A new form of exploitation? “Depends. In Italy the most virtuous fish farms are those neighboring the protected sea areas. There are innovative methods, high -tech tools to reduce the environmental impact of aquaculture, a growing sector. For example, the caviar chain, from sturgeon breeding, is an Italian excellence “he explains Arianna Martini, 36 years old, researcher creates (Council for Research in Agriculture and Analysis of the Agricultural Economy).
Ascent prices in the fish shop
Caviar aside, a luxury product, the prices of the catch have jumped to the stars. “The fish stocks of the Mediterranean are in crisis, but there is an improvement thanks to a more efficient fishing management, which goes in the right direction. However, this is not enough. Fishermen must be supported with adequate socio-economic support »he says Giulia Prato, 39, head of the WWF Italia Sea program.
“The fishing boats are too many compared to the amount of fish in the sea. European countries observe increasingly stringent rules, but this does not happen for North African nations. The populations of fish have collapsed by over a third in the last 50 years due to excessive fishing, illegal and accidental catches. The solution? Extend the protected marine areas of the Mediterranean, create new blue oasis that would allow the various specimens to reproduce and repopulate even the nearby areas »continues Prato».
The Pescheria di Rialto, in a large loggia overlooking the Grand Canal, in Venice. Photo by Steve Christo/Corbis via Getty Images.
Sustainable fishing: new recipes in the kitchen
If on the health of the planet water we are all responsible, and if the small gestures are also those who make the difference, What fish should be bought in order not to aggravate the fish depopulation of the sea? «Given that we must try to limit the consumption of fish, because we are at very, very high exploitation levels, We could try to diversify purchases, not always bringing to the table, cod, sea bass, sea bream, salmon, tuna, swordfish. We can vary our choices. Here is a very simple advice: when you see one you don’t know, focus on that. Fishermen or fishmongers can give advice on how to cook it.
When the red traffic light starts at sea
Inquiring is essential, even following the indications of the WWF to enjoy the fish in an ecological way. On the site WWF.ita green and red light system indicates which species to eat. Periodically, the “red traffic light” starts: We must not consume fish in the periods of their reproduction »warns Prator. How do we put it with alien species? “The rabbit fish, herbivores that populate the Indian ocean arrived from the Suez canal, have a very high voracity rate and risk affecting Posidonia’s meadows, fundamental for the production of oxygen. Also Scorpio fish are spreading with worrying speed throughout the Mediterranean, including Italy. The blue crabs, who arrived from the Atlantic, do not have competitors, are “biodiversity brushes” and have created enormous damage “concludes Giulia Prato.
Sustainable fishing: the invasion of aliens
On the trade of the alien species, such as the notorious blue crab, the super predator of clams raised in the Po Delta, in the Adriatic, in 2021 focused Carlotta Santolini, biologist, co-founder of Blueat the “Sustainable fish fish” which brought pulp, cream, sauce, blue crab meatballs to supermarkets. A “Blue Food Revolution” told by the entrepreneur at the One Ocean Week 2025 event.
Today Santolini and its four members, pioneer of the crab chain, are the only ones who export the pulp to the United States. Next blueat launch? “The blue crab burger. We have indicated a solution to mitigate the blue crab emergency, transforming it from a problem for marine fauna to an economic resource, because it is good to eat like an lobster. Now we are trying to make plastic from the carapace, for our packaging »says Santolini.
Hunting of the blue sticker
How can we understand if our purchases are “ecologically correct”? «To go without fail, even at the supermarket, you can search for the Blue MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) brand) which is located on the boxes, on the packs of frozentes and on the fish products sustainably caught. The MSC certification includes three principles: fishing must leave enough resources to the sea to ensure that the population can reproduce and the activity can continue over time; It must be carried out in order to minimize its impact, allowing plants and marine animals to thrive and must be managed in compliance with the laws »lists Francesca Oppia, 53 years old, responsible for the Italian development and implementation market of the MSC strategy. «The fish of the seas is like a bank capital: if it is continuously picked up, without taking care of the interests, the money thinks until they disappear. There must be a planning in the “sampling” “.
Sustainable fishing, at work for a better future
Oppia works for a better future: «Companies and the market can change. In Italy we are great fish consumers, of which 70 percent is imported. So at the table we have a double responsibility: to protect the sea and also the economy of developing countries. Fishing is never zero impact, you have to try to find the right balance, based on scientific criteria. It is also necessary to help fishermen to make their activity sustainable, directing them to the best practices to make the impact on the marine environment minimum. An example? By fishing too many anchovies and sardines, the most recommended fish, we remove food with tuna. In Sardinia we are working with octopus fishermen, helping them to understand the correct amount of capture for reproduction and sustainability ». MSC’s next goal is challenging: “involving 30 percent of world fishing activity in our programs by 2030” concludes Francesca Oppia. The sea thanks.
Please don’t eat sharks
At the One Ocean Week 2025 a lighthouse on scientific research and species in danger
They are found in the caciucco, the famous Livornese fish soup based on Palombo, stewed with peas (the carpenter) and even served in slices in the corporate canteens (La Verdesca). “Palombo, Gattuccio and Verdesca are sharks, such as the emery and spinarolo, all species on the market, victims of overall excessive fishing »says Geneva Boldrocchi, 37 years old, Ecotoxicologist, researcher of the University of Subria and Scientific Coordinator of One Ocean Foundationcompanies that provides companies with evaluation tools to measure their impact on marine ecosystems. Boldrocchi was one of the protagonists of One Ocean Week 2025, an event that from 21 to 25 May last in Milan lit a lighthouse on the “value of the blue natural capital”. “Italy is among the major importers of sharks, fundamental animals for world marine ecosystems. We should protect them, don’t eat them»Continues Boldrocchi. Passionate scholar of the Balena sharks in the Gibuti, Geneva Boldrocchi reports another reason not to consume shark meat: “Being predatory fish, and very long -lived, some great sharks accumulate in their meat polluting such as heavy metals: mercury, lead, cadmium, zinc, copper”.
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