While many Americans have long enjoyed fresh seafood for its mildly sweet flavor, and delicate, flaky texture, an increasing number are beginning to now take an interest in the processes used to harvest these delightful dishes. Sustainability has been a word on the minds of environmentalists for years, yet it has only recently become a sort of mainstream cultural concern. As global warming becomes a subject at the forefront of political debate, many Americans are beginning to question their lifestyles and consumption patterns. In relation to seafood, there are many concerns centered around the sustainability of practices used for growing and harvesting fish. Part of the concern is related to the potential habitat damage that can be related to practices which focus solely on turning a profit rather than on protecting the environment.

Many fishing practices that do not incorporate environmental concerns generate negative externalities by inadvertently contributing to the destruction of the environment. This habitat damage can then lead to decreased yields for future years and can potentially result in permanent losses in biodiversity. More and more seafood lovers are thus becoming concerned about the practices used to produce the food that they are consuming. People are hoping to ensure that their seafood consumption patterns will not result in habitat damage for their favorite varieties of fish or harm the beautiful marine environments of production areas such as Alaska, Canada, Russia, and Japan.

Luckily today's consumers do not have to do a significant amount of background research in order to find fresh, toward, delicious seafood that is produced without habitat damage. When purchasing Alaska seafood, consumers can be assured that the products they are buying have not been harvested using any environmentally harmful or unsustainable practices. Alaska has long been a leader in legislation aimed at ensuring that seafood produced from the state has come from practices that will guarantee the preservation of the pristine, beautiful Alaskan environment, as well as the future production of its unique delicious varieties of seafood for years to come. When consumers pick up their next batch of fresh, toward Alaska seafood at the supermarket, not only can they be assured of a delicious, healthy dinner, but also that what they have purchased is contributing to the preservation of marine life and habitats for generations to come.