May 14th, 2008
Gutted
Info-Graphic: A Guide to Sushi Fish: Shrimp

shrimpAlthough around 90-percent of shrimp (and prawns) sold in the U.S. are imported from Latin America or Southeast Asia, it is better to consume shrimp from the U.S. — where strictly-enforced standards ensure that fisheries and farms are managed better. That said, there are still problems with how U.S. shrimp are caught. Wild shrimp, for instance, are generally caught with trawl nets that bring in an enormous amount of bycatch — as much as ten pounds of ‘unwanted’ sea life for every pound of shrimp. U.S. shrimp fishermen now employ devices that allow sea turtles and other animals to escape from their nets, but catching shrimp in traps is still the most ocean-friendly method. U.S. shrimp farms have also made progress, in terms of reducing water pollution and choosing responsible aquaculture sites. Abroad, however, some 3.7 million acres of tropical coast mangroves have been converted to shrimp farms, sabotaging vital habitats for fish, birds, and people. These farms are then polluted to the point where they must be abandoned in favor of new locations.

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