The unsustainable harvest of the world's oceans has led to the depletion and, in some cases, collapse of many of the world's major fish stocks. While the outlook for many threatened marine ecosystems remain bleak in the face of unsustainable fishing practices, those involved in the seafood industry are realising that by changing the way they conduct business now, the long-term viability of their industry can be ensured.
While it may be the responsibility of the government to regulate and monitor fishing activities, it's also the duty of every seafood restaurant, retailer and consumer to support sustainable and responsible fishing practices.
In 2004, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) established the South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) to inform and educate all participants in the seafood trade, from wholesalers to restaurateurs through to seafood lovers, about sustainable seafood.
By using a "traffic light" system, the colour-coded SASSI list categorises selected South African and imported seafood species according to their conservation status.
Green
This is the group from which consumers are encouraged to choose, as it contains the most sustainable choices from the healthiest and most well-managed populations. These species can handle current fishing pressure.
Orange
This group includes species that have associated reasons for concern, either because the species is depleted as a result of overfishing and can't sustain current fishing pressure, or the fishery that catches them may cause particularly severe environmental damage and/or has high bycatch, or the lifestyle of the species makes it vulnerable to high fishing pressure. Consumers are encouraged to think twice and consider the implications of these choices.
Red
This group includes both unsustainable species, which are from collapsed populations or have extreme environmental concerns and/or lack appropriate management, and species that are illegal to buy or sell in South Africa (no-sale species). These species should never be bought by consumers. Fish highlighted in bold in this category are illegal to sell in South Africa.
Key to symbols used in lists:
Symbol | Description |
Species appears on more than one list as it is caught by multiple fishing sectors |
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Fishery improvement projects underway |
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Speccially protected species that are not allowed to be taken out of the ocean at all |
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Achovy |
Atlantic Salmon (Norway farmed) |
Abalone |
Angelfish |
Bigeye Tuna (SA pelagic longline) |
Bluefin Tuna |
Calamar/Squid (various species) |
Cape Dory |
Biscuit Skate (SA inshore trawl) |
Cape Rock Oyster (KZN, hand collected) |
Cape Horse Mackerel (SA mid-water trawl) |
Black musselcracker/Poenskop |
Carpenter (SA line caught) |
Cape Rock Oyster ( Southern Cape hand collected) |
Dageraad |
Dorado (SA line caught) |
Catface Rockcod |
Geelbek |
East Coast Rock Lobster (EC, hand collected) |
Dorado (SA pelagic longline) |
Jacopever (SA ofshore trawl) |
Gurnard (SA ofshore Trawl) |
Englishman |
Panga (SA inshore trawl) |
Hake (SA demersal longline) |
Hake (Namibia) |
Red Stumpnose/Miss Lucy |
Hake (SA Trawl) |
Kingklip (SA ofshore trawl) |
Scotsman |
Hottentot |
Octopus |
Shortfin Mako Sharks |
King mackerel |
Panga (SA line caught) |
Silver Kob (SA inshore trawl) |
Kingklip (SA demersal longline) |
Prawns (various species) |
Silver Kob (SA line caught) |
Kob (SA farmed) |
Red Roman |
Baardman/Belman |
Mussels (SA farmed) |
Santer |
Blacktail/Dassie |
Monk |
Sole (East Coast) |
Brindle Bass |
Oysters (SA farmed) |
Swordfish (Sa pelagic longline) |
Bronze Bream |
Queen Mackerel |
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Cape Stumpnose |
Rainbow Trout (SA farmed) |
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East Coast Rock Lobster (KZN) |
Sardines (SA) |
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Galjoen |
Slinger (SA line caught) |
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Garrick |
Snoek |
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King Fish |
White mussel (SA hand collected) |
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Natal Knife Jaw |
Yellowfin Tuna (SA pole caught) |
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Natal Stumpnose |
Yellowtail |
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Natal Wrasse |
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Potato Bass |
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Red Steenbras |
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River Snapper |
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Seventy-four |
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Spotted Grunter |
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West Coast Steenbras |
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White Musselcracker |
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White Steenbras |
Download a printable pocket-size SASSI card here.
If you're unsure about the status of species of fish you want to purchase, you can send an sms with just the name of the fish to the SASSI FishMs number: 079 499 8795. If the species is on one of the SASSI lists, you'll receive information about that species, as well as its associated SASSI colour. Smses are charged at standard rates.
The SASSI App allows you to check the sustainability of your seafood choice in real time. You can find out whether to tuck in, think twice or avoid all together. It’s free on Android and iOS!
For more information, visit the SASSI website at www.wwf.org.za/sassi Or, if you have specific questions, e-mail SASSI at sassi@wwf.org.za
Source: South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI)