The Bight: Santa Barbara Seafood Literacy Project

According to the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara, over 120 species of seafood are brought by over 100 fishermen to Santa Barbara Harbor every year. On top of this, most of these species are responsibly sourced and highly nutritious. However, the United States still imports up to 85% of its seafood every year. This makes it difficult for local fisheries to compete with imported products that may not face as strict regulations as those in the United States. The Santa Barbara Seafood Literacy Project’s goal is to raise awareness of local delicacies and responsible fishing practices to support the growing Blue Economy in Santa Barbara by fostering greater engagement with UCSB and the greater tri-county area. The SBSLP aims to increase ocean literacy and celebrate our coastal ecosystems through food, art, and science by providing students with information on where to find local, sustainable seafood, how those species are managed, and which recipes make them taste their best, through the creation of a quarterly zine titled The Bight. By engaging with many aspects of our community and incorporating them in an easy, digestible format, we hope to bring together a diverse group of people who love the ocean and want to develop creative ways to support our blue economy while ensuring our ocean remains healthy for generations.