WWF-Malaysia and Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) present Malaysia's first seafood guide to seafood lovers to promote sustainably-sourced seafood - that is seafood that is caught and farmed responsibly, using environmentally-friendly fishing methods. We hope that seafood consumers in Malaysia will re-evaluate and eventually change their consumption patterns by using this pocket-sized guide as a reference when ordering or purchasing seafood.

It is important for seafood consumers and businesses alike to know where our seafood comes from, as some are sourced sustainably and some are not due to different fisheries management regimes in different parts of the world. At present, we are taking some of our fish stocks out from the oceans faster than they can be replenished. If this scenario continues, we may eventually lose all of our fish along with other marine life. Furthermore, Malaysia is located within the Coral Triangle, the global centre of marine biodiversity, an area of ecological and economic significance that supports the livelihoods of more than 100 million people.

Various organizations and WWF offices worldwide have produced a number of seafood guides. However, the majority of the fish species on those guides do not include fish that are popular in Malaysia. Hence, the Malaysian seafood guide hopes to empower local consumers to make informed decisions about sustainable seafood that are not detrimental to our environment. This guide highlights over 50 popular seafood species that are commonly found in our wet markets, pasar malam, supermarkets, restaurants and hotels.

The seafood guide is just one of the starting points of our marine conservation work - we hope to eventually change the sourcing of seafood, from the oceans to the plate. As informed consumers, you have the purchasing power to determine that change. Once consumers start demanding for sustainable seafood, the sourcing for sustainable seafood will eventually follow. With that in mind, we hope to work with retailers, restaurants, hotels and traders to raise awareness about sustainable seafood. We also hope to work towards changing how our fisheries are being managed so that our marine resources will remain sustainable for the long term.

Take action now and start choosing sustainable seafood, to save our oceans and its marine resources, as well as the many livelihoods that depend on the oceans.

Malaysia's sustainable seafood guide is a compact colour-coded booklet that provides insight into the sustainability of 50 common Malaysian seafood species in English and Bahasa Malaysia. The species are sorted into three main categories: Recommended (Green), Think Twice (Yellow) and Avoid (Red).

Each species includes information about the fishing gear or method used to catch or farm it and where it’s caught or farmed. This guide uses an internationally agreed method to assess seafood sustainability to help consumers make the best seafood choices.

Download the guide now

About 85 species from both wild and farmed fisheries divided by 16 fishing or farming methods and 4 fishing regions were assessed using a methodology developed by WWF, Seafood Choice Alliance and North Sea Foundation. The assessment was commissioned to SEAFDEC Malaysia. The final assessments were then rigorously reviewed by internal WWF and MNS resource people before a final review workshop with eminent fisheries scientists from local universities and fisheries research organizations.

Each fishery was examined in detail to evaluate

• if the fishing method used is destructive to the species and the environment;
• if the species is listed as endangered or threatened globally;
• if the species is resilient to fishing pressure;
• if the fishing activity causes long-term or accumulated damage to other marine life and ecosystem functions.

Based on these questions, scores were given a final tally of scores made to determine which category the fishery belongs to. Each species was reviewed on the basis of the impacts of:

• disease and pollution to the species;
• the use of medicine;
• the impact of the farming method to the environment and wild species;
• the origin of juveniles for farming;
• the source of feed.

Based on these questions, scores are given and a final tally of scores will determine which category the fishery belongs to.

The Seafood Guide will be updated periodically to reflect the changes in species status and improvements in the relevant fishery, so that consumers will be assured that the information is reliable and can make the best choice for a sustainable future for fish and people.