Page 18 - South Mississippi Living - Ocotber, 2022

COAST NOTE
Sustainable SEAFOOD
October is National Seafood Month. Celebrate by making sustainable seafood choices that support fishers, processors, and dealers who are vital to our Gulf Coast economy.
The easiest thing you can do is to buy local, wild-caught seafood. Be sure to look for items marked with sustainable seafood certification labels to support responsible fishing practices. Labels include the “GULF Responsible Fisheries Management” certification and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) fishery certification program. You can also use the Seafood Watch app while you shop for more information.
Shrimp, oysters, redfish, and more are all in season, so find a great recipe and enjoy! If you need
inspiration, check out the Mississippi Gulf
Fresh Seafood website for ideas.
www.msseafood.com
This story is part of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance’s “What the Gulf Gives” awareness initiative sponsored by Clean Gulf Associates. Share your favorite gifts of the Gulf of Mexico using #WhattheGulfGives on social media. Facebook/Instagram: @gulfofmexicoalliance
story by Christina Mohrman photo by Amanda Nalley
SEAFOOD FACTS
• Americans eat an average of 19 pounds of seafood per person each year.
• The top five commercial species harvested in the Gulf by pounds are: menhaden (pogies), white shrimp, brown shrimp, blue crabs, and oysters.
• About 75 percent of the shrimp harvested in the United States come from the Gulf of Mexico.
• Oysters filter 50 gallons of water per day and can live up to 20 years.
• Mississippi ranks number five in the nation for total volume of commercial seafood landings.
*Facts sourced from NOAA Fisheries
18 | October 2022
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living