Trade and Labeling

Seafood is one of the most traded primary commodities in world. Despite the amount of seafood located in US waters, the US currently imports 80% of the seafood consumed in the US. This makes seafood the second most imported commodity in the US after oil (NOAA).  Despite the increasingly industrial models of food production and the lack of recognition for farmers and fishermen in US society, the key to our food security and food sovereignty is tied to the US’ ability to produce food within it’s borders and not depend on other counties for this necessary human requirement.

The Country of Origin Labeling Act (COOL) was implemented on seafood products sold in the US in 2005. Fishermen fought for the labeling as a way to give the consumer more information about their product, with the hope that ultimately the consumer would favor domestically caught products. The COOL standards were intended to inform consumers about where seafood comes from and if it is farm-raised or wild-caught.  Unfortunately, some of the labeling requirements of COOL have ultimately confused the consumers instead of demystifying the food chain. For example, if seafood is processed and/or value is added in a different country, then the seafood product is labeled as a product of that country where the value adding took place.

Giving consumers more information about their food is the basis of creating more intelligent choices. There is a growing concern among consumers as to the safety, nutritional value, and environmental sustainability of the food they purchase.

Informational labeling can  be used by the consumer to make decisions on whether or not to buy locally or regionally caught seafood. In areas where locally or regionally caught seafood is available, this will benefit local and regional fleets and fishing communities, and help recapture local and regional markets from foreign imports.

Buying food that is produced close to the consumer and not shipped half way around the world for processing is key to reducing energy used on food production. But we need better labeling if are going to achieve this. It is critical for the consumer to support accurate labeling that gives people the right to choose whether they want to buy fish from their local community or imported from across the world.