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What are the best fish to eat--for me and the environment?
Easy Answer: According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium's "Super Green List" the best fish for eating are: Albacore Tuna (troll- or pole-caught, from the U.S. or British Columbia), Freshwater Coho Salmon (farmed in tank systems, from the U.S.), Mussels (farmed), Oysters (farmed), Pacific Sardines (wild-caught), Rainbow Trout (farmed), Salmon (wild-caught, from Alaska)
The Gulf oil spill has turned seafood into a hot topic. Over at Ask Umbra, they're discussing Sylvia Earle's book: The World Is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One? with the provocative question "Isn't the ocean an all-you-can-eat buffet?"
The answer: It's not.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium releases national and regional seafood lists--with fish categorized as "Best Choices," "Good Alternatives," and "Avoid". (They also have a nifty, and free,iphone ap to help guide seafood choices.)
You can also look up other fish. The trick--knowing where your fish is from and how it was caught. Here are a few dinner time favs:
Salmon
Seafood Watch ranks wild-caught salmon from Alaska or Washington as your best choices. Keep away from wild salmon from California and Oregon.
Tuna
It all depends on the type of tuna (Albacore, Bigeye, Bluefin, Skipjack, Tongol, Yellowfin), where it's from and how it's caught. The full chart is available here. The Monterey Aquarium recommends looking for the Marine Stewardship Council logo on the can.
Halibut
Your best choice is Pacific or Alaskan halibut that's been wild-caught.
Tilapia
US farmed tilapia is best. Steer clear of farmed tilapia from China. Why? There are pollution and management issues.
Shrimp
The most sustainable shrimp are farmed using tanks or ponds. Avoid imported farmed prawn.
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Tuna is not the best fish for you if you are worried about mercury. Better to eat smaller fish which are lower on the food chain. I live in Washington State and some of our salmon species are near to being an endangered species.
It seems to me to be odd to talk about sustainability while encouraging consumption at the same time.
Warning - shameless plug ahead - With Thentic.com, we're trying to create a system where consumers can learn from f&b professionals near and far who they can trust more than celebrity endorsements and consumer-to-consumer sharing sites; people like the produce buyer at your local natural product store or the cheese monger at your local specialty shop. We want to help re-establish the relationships people used to have with these professionals and get people eating better.
I don't think there's a single organization that has it all right. It really depends on each individuals' values and what they place the most importance upon - price, taste, carbon-footprint, reputation, brand, ego, etc...
Note the title "Easy Answers" There are several organizations like MBA who make recommendations, but you'll find their recommendations conflict with one another. You need to determine what values are important to you and make decisions accordingly. Sorry folks, it's just not that easy.
Hi David,
Do you have any specific organizations you like for making seafood choices?
I also check out the Environmental Defense Fund's Seafood Selector. http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1521
Easy Answer: According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “Super Green List†the best fish for eating are: Albacore Tuna (troll- or pole-caught, from the U.S. or British Columbia), Freshwater Coho Salmon (farmed in tank systems, from the U.S.), Mussels (farmed), Oysters (farmed),>>>> Pacific Sardines (wild-caught)<<<<, Rainbow Trout (farmed), Salmon (wild-caught, from Alaska)
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