How to Shop for Sustainable Seafood
- 1). Begin by viewing the links below to learn which kinds of fish and other seafood are sustainable. The criteria includes an abundant population that allows other sea life to flourish and, if the fish is farmed, whether the methods used are protective of the ocean’s ecological balance.
- 2). Read labels. There is the MSC label that appears on many types of tuna and fresh and frozen varieties of fish. Among the seafood that is sustainable include: Atlantic Herring, Walleye Pollock, Green and Blue Mussels (farmed), Chub Mackerel, Northern Shrimp, Mahi Mahi, Rock Sole, Dungeness Crab, Yellowfin Sole, Black Sea Bass, King Crabs, and Littleneck Clams.
- 3). Select sustainable seafood that is given the top honor of “best choice” by MSC for being abundant and also being caught or farmed in ways that do not harm the ocean environment. These seafood include: Alaska Salmon, Alaska Mackerel, Sablefish, Western Rock Lobster, Pacific Cod and Pacific Halibut.
- 4). Avoid purchasing or consuming seafood that is marked as not sustainable for reasons of overfishing, containing mercury, or being farmed in ways that impact the ocean negatively. These include: Caviar (Wild N. American and Caspian Sea varieties), Atlantic Salmon (farmed), Atlantic Cod(farmed) and Atlantic Halibut.
- 5). Remember the EPA’s and FDA’s warnings regarding the presence of mercury in some seafood. These should be eaten in smaller quantities and women who are pregnant should consult their physicians for detailed guidelines. Seafood commonly recorded to have mercury include: Striped Bass, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Swordfish, Shark, Blue Crab, and Bluefish.
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