Types of Seafood
What is seafood? The term covers a wide variety of creatures, including fish and shellfish. Among shellfish species are molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. In this article, you will learn about the types of seafood available. Read on to learn more about the different types of seafood and their health benefits. Then, you can start to plan your next seafood meal! Here are some tips:
Fisheries
To sustainably produce and sell seafood, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture are essential to food security and livelihoods. Global capture fisheries production reached its highest level ever in 2018, an increase of 5.4 per cent from the average of the last three years. Production from marine fisheries reached 84.4 million tonnes. Despite this increase, sustainable seafood production is still not guaranteed. The OECD Review of Fisheries 2020 highlights some of the critical challenges and priorities.
Fish
Humans have been catching and eating many species of fish for centuries. It is a common source of protein and other nutrients, and is a common dietary staple in almost every part of the world. Many people, including those from other cultures, enjoy catching, cooking, and eating seafood. But why do we love it? Here are a few reasons why. Despite its popularity, seafood can be very pricey. To learn more, read the sections below.
Crustaceans
The group of invertebrates known as crustaceans consists of creatures that have hard shells and walk on joined legs. While many crustaceans live underwater, some live on land. Crustaceans have large pincers on their front limbs that allow them to grasp and ingest things. The size range of these animals is huge, from the minuscule water flea to the 4m-long Japanese spider crab. The smallest crustacean, the pea crab, is as small as a pea.
Shrimp
The “vein” of shrimp is the same as the intestine in humans, but a shrimp is not poisonous. In fact, the vein is mostly tasteless. While deveining is not harmful to humans, it can ruin the appearance of your dish. It is not difficult to devein shrimp, either. The vein is located beneath the meat, on the backside of the shrimp. To devein shrimp, first rinse the shrimp under cold running water.
Shellfish
Crustaceans and mollusks are two of the main classes of shellfish. Most shellfish are composed of 75-80% water, 20 percent protein, and two to five percent fat. They are also high in micronutrients, and some research suggests that shellfish can boost your immunity, improve heart health, and promote weight loss. But beware – shellfish contain heavy metals, and the flavor of raw or partially cooked shellfish may not be as savory as that of cooked seafood. Nevertheless, shellfish are a healthy choice for people who do not have food-borne illnesses.
Fish oil
Taking fish oil supplements is a great way to get omega-3 fatty acids into your diet. Compared to eating seafood, fish oil supplements contain more omega-3s. Omega-3 fatty acids are the body’s essential fats. When we eat fatty fish, we get a large dose of DHA and EPA. Our bodies cannot produce these fatty acids naturally. Therefore, we need to consume foods rich in these fats.
Seaweed
You can eat seaweed raw or cooked. You can also rehydrate it and consume it as a vegetable. You can also eat it in many other ways, including baked into cakes and as a thickening agent in soups. Seaweed is a great source of minerals and vitamins. Although seaweed contains some sodium, it is a very low-calorie addition to many seafood dishes. Read on for more reasons to eat seaweed in your seafood.