Something Seems Fishy...
“Do me a favor, and go grab some fish for dinner tonight?” This was a simple task given to me by my mother just few weeks ago in the Albertsons near our house. I hadn’t realized how conflicting this simple request could become. Once I reached the man distributing the fish, he asked me, “What kind of fish would you like, and how much of it?” I gave him a blank stare with no response. I had no idea what type of fish I wanted. What type of fish was I supposed to ask for? What type of fish was I supposed to eat?
Turns out, this question became a much larger burden on me than I would expect. There are a variety of concerns to account for when asking yourself this: What types of fish are good for you, what has been added to the fish you are buying, how this fish was raised, and so on. But possibly the most important concern is where your fish is coming from.
A considerable amount of fish that arrive in grocery stores come from large fish farms. There are over 200 different species of fish being farmed around the world, from carnivorous fish that need nutrients in the form of meat, to herbivorous fish that rely on plant-based nutrients. One issue that arises with both of these groups is overpopulation inside of these farms. Overpopulation in fish farms leads to the spread of diseases and bacteria, such as E.coli. E.coli is “a bacterial species associated with infection via ingestion” as Renata Albuquerque Costa from Fisheries Engineering Committee describes it. It is often “related to human fecal matter.” Ingestion of this bacteria can lead to infections in the stomach, intestines, and other organs in the human gastrointestinal tract. This becomes a huge precaution that must be noted when deciding where to buy your fish.
Another concern with farmed fish would be the large amount of inorganic waste it causes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a statement describing the disposing of this waste. “This wastewater and sludge is disposed via underground injection.” These corporations are injecting their waste into the Earth's crust. No contamination on the Earth’s surface has been shown from this process, but “available information about some aquaculture injection wells suggest that USDW [underground sources of drinking water] contamination could occur.” In 2012, EPA did edit their underground injection control making regulations in Hawaii and Maryland stating that injection wells must be authorized by individual permits” and introduced regulations in Idaho requiring “individual permits for wells deeper than 18 feet.” While these regulations help protect USDWs, other states who do not have these regulations are still at risk.
Purchasing fish from a local market is a completely different subject matter though. Eating local fish from the ocean can be a healthy alternative to purchasing fish from stores. Purchasing fish from community-supported fisheries (CSF) help support the workers who are actually fishing. “Fishermen receive higher prices for their catch,” is what the National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS) reported. This guarantees them a steady salary and can “activate political and regulatory support through direct interaction with consumers.” The product purchased is also “fresh, higher valued seafood.” Since the fish caught are raised in their natural habitat, no issues are raised with living in densely populated areas, being raised on unnatural diets, being introduced to preservatives, or other problems that appear in industrialized fish. Though these fish tend to be more costly, the benefits generally are worth the price.
In all fish though, you will receive certain nutrients that can benefit the body. Fish have a series of fats inside of them called Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids can prove beneficial to the human body. For example, in a randomized clinical trial the American Heart Association (AHA) completed, “omega-3 fatty acid supplements significantly reduced CV [Cardiovascular] events (death, nonfatal heart attacks, nonfatal strokes).” The AHA also recommended to eat at least two servings of fish a week, due to fish being a “good source of protein and low in saturated fats.”
So as I stood in front of the cashier looking for the answer to this question, I realized there was no correct answer in this situation. The fish here were not to the same standard as a local fish market’s product. I ended up requesting a pound of the tilapia; it was a familiar name and a pound seemed like a conventional amount. Though it satisfied my taste buds that night, it did not satisfy nutritional needs.
Turns out, this question became a much larger burden on me than I would expect. There are a variety of concerns to account for when asking yourself this: What types of fish are good for you, what has been added to the fish you are buying, how this fish was raised, and so on. But possibly the most important concern is where your fish is coming from.
A considerable amount of fish that arrive in grocery stores come from large fish farms. There are over 200 different species of fish being farmed around the world, from carnivorous fish that need nutrients in the form of meat, to herbivorous fish that rely on plant-based nutrients. One issue that arises with both of these groups is overpopulation inside of these farms. Overpopulation in fish farms leads to the spread of diseases and bacteria, such as E.coli. E.coli is “a bacterial species associated with infection via ingestion” as Renata Albuquerque Costa from Fisheries Engineering Committee describes it. It is often “related to human fecal matter.” Ingestion of this bacteria can lead to infections in the stomach, intestines, and other organs in the human gastrointestinal tract. This becomes a huge precaution that must be noted when deciding where to buy your fish.
Another concern with farmed fish would be the large amount of inorganic waste it causes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a statement describing the disposing of this waste. “This wastewater and sludge is disposed via underground injection.” These corporations are injecting their waste into the Earth's crust. No contamination on the Earth’s surface has been shown from this process, but “available information about some aquaculture injection wells suggest that USDW [underground sources of drinking water] contamination could occur.” In 2012, EPA did edit their underground injection control making regulations in Hawaii and Maryland stating that injection wells must be authorized by individual permits” and introduced regulations in Idaho requiring “individual permits for wells deeper than 18 feet.” While these regulations help protect USDWs, other states who do not have these regulations are still at risk.
Purchasing fish from a local market is a completely different subject matter though. Eating local fish from the ocean can be a healthy alternative to purchasing fish from stores. Purchasing fish from community-supported fisheries (CSF) help support the workers who are actually fishing. “Fishermen receive higher prices for their catch,” is what the National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS) reported. This guarantees them a steady salary and can “activate political and regulatory support through direct interaction with consumers.” The product purchased is also “fresh, higher valued seafood.” Since the fish caught are raised in their natural habitat, no issues are raised with living in densely populated areas, being raised on unnatural diets, being introduced to preservatives, or other problems that appear in industrialized fish. Though these fish tend to be more costly, the benefits generally are worth the price.
In all fish though, you will receive certain nutrients that can benefit the body. Fish have a series of fats inside of them called Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids can prove beneficial to the human body. For example, in a randomized clinical trial the American Heart Association (AHA) completed, “omega-3 fatty acid supplements significantly reduced CV [Cardiovascular] events (death, nonfatal heart attacks, nonfatal strokes).” The AHA also recommended to eat at least two servings of fish a week, due to fish being a “good source of protein and low in saturated fats.”
So as I stood in front of the cashier looking for the answer to this question, I realized there was no correct answer in this situation. The fish here were not to the same standard as a local fish market’s product. I ended up requesting a pound of the tilapia; it was a familiar name and a pound seemed like a conventional amount. Though it satisfied my taste buds that night, it did not satisfy nutritional needs.
Reflection
This, so far, has been my favorite project in high school. I really enjoyed looking at all of the different places food comes from. I read The Omnivore's Dilemma through this project, and got to learn about three different ways to get food: from industrial farms, from hunting/gathering your own food, and from local farms. We visited a local farm for a field trip, and got to see how food is grown there. Also, learning about Pescetarianism helped me become conscious of my eating habits. Overall, I will now focus more on where my food is coming from, and be more conscious of what I am eating.
Sub-Projects
While doing this project, there were sub-projects that went along with it. Below you can read about them:
I'm A What-A-Vore?
Food Lab Project
I'm A What-A-Vore?
Food Lab Project