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Government shutdown looms after Trump-backed bill fails; Environmental groups sue CA Air Resources Board over biogas credits; NY elected officials work to electrify municipal buildings; Need a mental health boost? Talking hot dog is here.

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President-elect Trump repeats his threats to jail Jan. 6th committee members, while also putting a stop-gap spending plan in jeopardy. A court removes Fani Willis from Trump's Georgia election interference case. The FAA restricts drones in New Jersey, and a Federal Reserve rate cut shakes markets.

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Rural folks could soon be shut out of loans for natural disasters if Project 2025 has its way, Taos, New Mexico weighs options for its housing shortage, and the top states providing America's Christmas trees revealed.

Mainers seek more ‘sustainable’ seafood but labels may be misleading

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Thursday, August 29, 2024   

Mainers are buying more "sustainable" and "humane" seafood but animal welfare advocates said such labels may not be telling the whole story.

The sustainable seafood market is predicted to top $26 million by 2030 as more consumers focus on environmental health.

Helen Browning, researcher and lecturer at the University of Southampton in the U.K., said the sustainable label simply means a species was not overfished but not necessarily treated well.

"I think that could be quite confusing for consumers," Browning contended. "They might think that humane products are sustainable, sustainable products are humane, when actually neither of those things has to be the case."

She recommended Seafood Watch or the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch Guide, which offer online tools for consumers to learn which species and regions are harvested responsibly. The tools cover both wild fisheries and aquaculture operations.

Fifteen percent of the world's wild-caught fish are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council but it does not address animal welfare. Rather the nonprofit focuses on environmental sustainability, healthy ecosystems and maintaining legal fishing regulations. The Aquaculture Stewardship Council published its Fish Health and Welfare Criterion in 2023.

Maria Filipa Castanheira, spokesperson for the council, said the guidelines lay out best practices for fish farmers.

"The group called for certain welfare considerations to be included, including anesthesia of fish during handling operations that can inflict pain or injury if fish are moving, and maximum time fish can be out of water," Castanheira outlined.

Some national animal welfare groups are promoting the idea of humane slaughter for fish, which aims to reduce or eliminate pain and suffering. Currently, many fish are chilled to death in an ice slurry or asphyxiated by being taken out of the water before being stunned or killed.

This story is based on original reporting by Jessica Scott-Reid at Sentient.


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