Sustainable Seafood: Protecting Oceans Without Giving Up Fish

Why Sustainability Doesn’t Mean Giving Up Seafood

For Dr. David Shiffman, protecting the ocean isn’t about choosing between food security and conservation — it’s about using science to find balance. A marine conservation biologist and author of Why Sharks Matter, Shiffman is a leading voice on sustainable fisheries and shark protection. He challenges misconceptions and extremes in the public debate, arguing that the science doesn’t suggest we should all avoid eating fish to maintain sustainable fisheries. That said, he agrees that much of our present industrial fishing industry is not meeting that bar.

In this interview, Shiffman explains why healthy shark populations are essential for marine ecosystems and why unsustainable industrial fishing is the biggest threat to ocean biodiversity. With billions relying on the ocean for food and tens of millions for their livelihoods, the stakes couldn’t be higher. But Shiffman’s message is clear: we don’t have to give up seafood to save the sea. We need data-driven decisions, thoughtful trade-offs, and a collective commitment to sustainability that supports both ecosystems and people.