Project: Do You Know the Seafood You’re Eating?

Project: Do You Know the Seafood You’re Eating?

“Third fisherman: …Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea.

— Shakespeare

You will design, conduct, and analyze research to discover firsthand what types of seafood are being sold in our community, where this seafood comes from, and whether that seafood is an overfished species. Using your research and analysis you will develop a consumer education campaign regarding sustainable fisheries.

This project will provide an introduction to seafood as an important food source and as an industry controlled partly by supply and demand. The results that emerge from your research will likely lead you to question the role of public education in seafood choices for sustainable fisheries.

Clip: How to Buy Fresh, Sustainable Seafood - http://youtu.be/C7mMzL9Snqc
MATERIALS:

• 
  Handout #1: List of overfished and near-overfished fish species
  
• 
  Handout #2: Overview of world’s ocean fisheries
  
• 
  Handout #3: Sample graphs and charts
  

Do you know what type of fish you may be eating or whether that fish is an overfished species? How important is education in a supply and demand economy?

1. 
   What do you know about the fish/seafood you buy at the store or order in a restaurant? Where does it come from? Is there an abundance of that species?
   

2. 
   Brainstorm and make a concept map showing the different human relationships with fish/seafood (recreational, food source, etc.).
   

3. 
   What are some issues surrounding fisheries and the concepts of Overfishing? Sustainability? Fish farming?
   

4. 
   With your group, design a research project with detailed fieldwork (including data tables & photos) to answer the following questions:
   

• 
  Where is fish/seafood sold in your community? (i.e. all supermarkets, seafood restaurants, fish markets, farmers’ markets, fast food restaurants, etc.)
  
• 
  What type of fish/seafood is sold at each type of market?
  
• 
  Where does the fish/seafood come from?
  
• 
  How are they caught?
  
• 
  Are they farmed or from the wild?
  
• 
  What are the prices of fish—compare both species and locations.
  
• 
  What is the most popular fish species? Other seafood species?
  
• 
  What is the frequency of different fish species/seafood in the markets?
  
• 
  What different marketing strategies or signage is up at the different stores? (ex. Whole Foods vs. Vons)
  
• 
  Which of these species are facing overfishing pressures?
  

5. 
   Conduct your market research regarding the types and sources of fish/seafood sold in the local community. (ex. Survey, questionnaires, interviews, etc…)
   

6. 
   Analyze your results…
   
   1. 
      Prepare charts and graphs to present your findings
      
   2. 
      What conclusions can be drawn from your study, using such factors as pricing, availability, demand, and overfishing threats?
      
   3. 
      Put yourself in the position of the fisher. Using your conclusions, what choices would you make in order to create the greatest profit?
      
   4. 
      Reflect on these questions:
      
      1. 
         Will knowing more about overfished species change your eating and purchasing habits?
         
      2. 
         Can consumers really have an impact on what is sold?
         
      3. 
         What about the many species for which there is not enough data to judge whether they are overfished or not?
         
      4. 
         Did you have difficulty getting the information you needed, if so, what does this mean for consumer education?
         
   5. 
      There are existing sustainable seafood choices programs. These programs maintain and make accessible information about fish species and the status of their populations.
      
      1. 
         Why are different fish species placed in the different categories?
         
      2. 
         Discuss how these programs can assist with making consumer choices regarding fish purchases in stores and restaurants.
         

7. 
   Develop a consumer education campaign regarding sustainable fisheries. (Ex. Flyers, Signage, YouTube Clip, Commercial, etc…)
   

8. 
   Your Final Report should be typed, in a bound report cover, with a title page, and all information asked above.