Know Your Fish: A New Initiative Promoting Sustainable Seafood Choices
Know Your Fish: Initiative turns seafood lovers into ocean guardians
The Indian Express
Image: The Indian Express
The Know Your Fish (KYF) initiative encourages seafood lovers in India to make informed choices that support ocean conservation. Founded by marine biologists, KYF provides an online consumption calendar that highlights sustainable seafood options while raising awareness about bycatch and its impact on marine ecosystems.
- 01Know Your Fish (KYF) aims to connect seafood lovers with sustainable fishing practices.
- 02The initiative provides an online consumption calendar for the west coast of India, promoting responsible seafood choices.
- 03KYF highlights the issue of bycatch and its significant impact on marine life.
- 04The initiative encourages community involvement through citizen science projects.
- 05KYF aims to make conservation a natural part of daily life without sacrificing seafood enjoyment.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Know Your Fish (KYF) is a voluntary initiative founded by wildlife and marine biologists Pooja Rathod, Mayuresh Gangal, Chetana Purushottam, and Samuel John, aiming to transform seafood lovers into ocean guardians. The program features an online consumption calendar specifically for the west coast of India, guiding consumers on sustainable seafood choices based on scientific research. KYF evaluates fish species using criteria such as their position in the food chain, population resilience, and fishing methods, assigning vulnerability scores to inform consumers. A significant focus of KYF is on bycatch, which accounts for an estimated 56.3% of all marine capture in India. This hidden cost often includes non-target species like turtles and juvenile fish, which are often discarded or used in fishmeal. To promote responsible consumption, KYF advises avoiding certain species during their breeding seasons and highlights the collateral damage caused by fishing practices. Additionally, KYF fosters community engagement through the “Fish with Eggs” project, allowing citizens to report sightings of egg-bearing fish, thus contributing to data collection and conservation efforts. Ultimately, KYF aims to inspire consumers to ask not just what seafood is fresh, but what is responsible, ensuring the health of marine ecosystems for future generations.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
This initiative encourages consumers to make informed choices that can lead to healthier marine ecosystems, benefiting both local fisheries and the environment.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you consider sustainability when choosing seafood?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.


