Many consumers are looking for ways to live more sustainably, and they’re ordering sustainable foods at their favorite restaurants. Fortunately, seafood production practices can be sustainable too, and if you love eating oysters, shrimp, and lobster, keep these tips in mind.

3 Tips for Enjoying Seafood Sustainably

1. Choose Locally Sourced Options

When fish are caught and served in restaurants nearby, they don’t have to travel as far to arrive on your plate. As a result, your entree will put out fewer carbon emissions from transportation than if it used fish from afar. Sourcing locally also means a fresher product since the fish was eaten shortly after it was caught and didn’t require as much processing or preservatives.

2. Consider Seasonal Favorites

Some fish are common in your area only during certain seasons because of their natural swimming and breeding patterns. For example, marlin and ahi tuna are more plentiful in Hawaii during the spring. Due to fish farming, many types of seafood are available year-round, but this practice isn’t sustainable. Ordering seasonal favorites gives you a better chance of getting freshly caught fish.

3. Try Something New

People often stick with the seafood dishes they’re familiar with. However, fishermen catch a variety of unique species that offer the same flavors and health benefits as your favorites. Being open-minded with your ordering options reduces waste of these less popular varieties and lessens the demand for large fish farming operations to mass-produce those well-known varieties.

If you want to be a more sustainable consumer, order locally sourced, seasonal seafood the next time you dine out. PARIS.HAWAII in Honolulu is a contemporary restaurant that fuses traditional French cuisine with inspiration from Hawaii. Chef Yuya uses fresh, local ingredients to create an innovative, rotating prix fixe menu. View the restaurant’s current menu online.