Fish Facts.

This just in from the Monterey Bay Aquarium "Seafood Watch"-- I found it interesting and helpful, I hope you all do too.  The hubbs and I eat seafood at least twice a week, sometimes more, so I appreciate this information as I set out on my grocery shopping trips during this month...

"Worldwide, the demand for seafood is increasing.  Yet many populations of the large fish we enjoy are over-fished and, in the U.S., we import over 80% of our seafood to meet the demand.  Destructive fishing and fish farming practices only add to the problem.  By purchasing fish caught or farmed using environmentally friendly practices, you're supporting healthy, abundant oceans."

BEST CHOICES:  

Abundant, well-managed and caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways.

Abalone (US farmed)

Arctic Char (farmed)

Barramundi (US farmed)

Catfish (US farmed)

Clams, Mussels, Oysters (farmed)

Cod: Pacific (US non-trawled)

Crab: Dungeness

Halibut: Pacific (US)

Lobster: California Spiny (US)

Rockfish: Black (CA, OR, WA, hook & line)

Sablefish/ Black Cod (Alaska & Canada)

Salmon (Alaska Wild)

Sardines: Pacific (US)

Scallops (farmed)

Shrimp: Pink (OR)

Spot Prawn (Canada)

Striped Bass (farmed & wild)

Tilapia (US farmed)

Trout: Rainbow (US farmed) 

Tuna: Albacore (Canada & US Pacific), troll/pole)

Tuna: Skipjack, Yellowfin (US troll/pole)

White Seabass (hook & line)

GOOD ALTERNATIVES:  

An option, but there are concerns with how they're caught or farmed- or with the health of their habitat due to other human impacts.

Basa/Pangasius/Swai (farmed)

Caviar, Sturgeon (US farmed)

Clams, Oysters (wild)

Cod: Pacific (US trawled)

Crab: King (US), Snow

Flounders, Soles (Pacific)

Halibut: California

Lingcod

Lobster: American/ Maine

Mahi Mahi (US)

Pollock: Alaska (US)

Rockfish (Pacific hook & line)

Sablefish/ Black Cod (CA, OR, WA)

Salmon (CA, OR, WA, wild)

Sanddabs (Pacific)

Scallops (wild)

Shrimp (US, Canada)

Spot Prawn (US)

Squid

Swordfish (US)

Tilapia (Central & South American farmed)

Tuna: Bigeye, Tongol, Yellowfin (troll/pole)

Yellowtail: California (US wild)

AVOID:  

These items are over-fished or caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life or the environment. 

Caviar, Sturgeon (imported wild)

Chilean Seabass/ Toothfish

Cod: Atlantic (Canada & US)

Cobia (imported farmed)

Crab: King (imported)

Dogfish (US)

Grenadier

Lobster: Spiny (Brazil)

Mahi Mahi (imported longline)

Marlin : Blue, Striped (Pacific)

Monkfish

Orange Roughy

Rockfish/ "Pacific Snapper" (trawled)

Salmon (farmed, including Atlantic)

Sharks

Shrimp (imported)

Swordfish (imported)

Tilapia (Asia farmed)

Tuna: Albacore, Bigeye, Skipjack, Tongol, Yellowfin (except troll/pole)

Tuna: Bluefin

Tuna: Canned (except troll/pole)

To see the complete and most up-to-date list, visit www.seafoodwatch.org, or you can download the free app, check out their mobile site and even join the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Facebook or Twitter.

The seafood recommendations in this listing are credited to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation and the Monterey Bay Aquarium "Seafood Watch" West Coast Sustainable Seafood Guide.

Enjoy & stay sustainable!

B