Celebrating Seafood, Sustainability, and Stewardship. A Message from Eileen Sobeck, Head of NOAA Fisheries. Healthy Habitat: Key to Our Seafood and Fisheries. Get to Know Your Seafood from Ocean to Plate
October 1, 2014
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he arrival of fall can mean only one thing: Seafood.Yes, while we at NOAA Fisheries appreciate the changing of the leaves and cooler temperatures that signify the change in seasons, for us fall is a celebration of seafood.
October is National Seafood Month and a chance for the “seafoodie” in each of us to rejoice. Nationwide, restaurants and markets showcase new seafood choices on their menus that are healthy and flavorful, and that highlight the sustainability of U.S. fisheries from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico.
We know a little something about sustainably caught and farmed seafood, the jobs supported, and enjoyment experienced. Our science-based management process is delivering results benefiting both the environment and the economy. Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without the contributions and commitment of our partners and stakeholders who have helped make the U.S. a world leader in the successful stewardship of marine resources.
Seafood has become a powerful ambassador for global ocean stewardship—effectively connecting the wellbeing of human populations to the health and productivity of our ocean resources; and, more importantly, our collective responsibility for their stewardship.
Throughout National Seafood Month, NOAA Fisheries will feature stories and updates underscoring the successes and challenges of sustainable fisheries and the seafood they provide. We’ll also highlight the collaborative efforts of the commercial fishing, seafood and aquaculture industries, recreational and subsistence anglers, and conservation communities that will help us move forward and build on our successes.
So we invite you to explore seafood this month, knowing that you and NOAA Fisheries have helped make that enjoyment possible.
Eileen Sobeck
Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries
