The world has long been presented with the challenge of utilizing the vast natural resources of the planet, without depleting them. The seafood industry is no exception. The icy waters off Alaska are no exception. While the Alaskan government wants to ensure this food source remains sustainable, it also wants to fuel one of its largest industries. As the provider of more than half the fish and shellfish produced by the entire United States each year, Alaska must go the extra mile to preserve the vast marine biodiversity off Alaska. As such, sustainability and conservation laws have been written into the state constitution that focus on a clean, reliable, productive and sustainable seafood industry.

Healthy marine ecosystems mean that the marine biodiversity off Alaska can live and flourish without any strain or stress. The balancing of these delicate systems in Alaska is cited the world over as a success story. From setting quotas, to limiting or prohibiting the harvesting equipment used, to specifying the size a specimen must be to be utilized as food, the Alaskan seafood industry doesn’t just rely on arbitrary numbers but contemporary research and science to keep its populations sustainable. From Alaska salmon to Alaska crab, clams and even Geoducks, there are a million details to consider in order to sustain ocean ecosystems, and the Alaskan government and fisheries are working together to do just that.

Not only is the marine biodiversity off Alaska good for marine ecosystems, but it is great for the seafood lover. The fresh taste and excellent texture of Alaskan seafood is no accident. When seafood species are allowed to grow and flourish in their natural environments kept as clean and pristine as possible, they are simply of a higher quality. While the price on Alaska seafood may be slightly higher, the difference is that the consumer gets a product free of toxins and hormones and packed with nutrients. That’s something that few other fisheries in the world are able to say about their product. Some of the ingredients left off the labels on farm raised fish like salmon would be better off found in a bottle of poison than a food, so be sure to consider what exactly you are eating or feeding your kids when choosing farm raised seafood.

It’s up to us to protect the planet. Check out the sustainability tips from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. Alaska’s fishermen have a long tradition of effective resource management to ensure that generations to come can enjoy fresh seafood.