Seafood Watch

The other night, I purchased a 1/2 pound of salmon from Whole Foods. It was labeled as a "good alternative" by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. While this recommendation allows consumers to feel "good" about their purchases, I decided to investigate what these particular labels indicate and how relevant it is to be aware of where our fish is farmed.

According to their website, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch aims to educate businesses and consumers on the many methods of farming by providing information on ways to purchase fish that have been farmed in environmentally friendly ways. Their statement reflects a goal of sustaining the wild and diverse ecosystem for our future, They report that nearly 85% of the world's fisheries are farmed at capacity or over farmed.


Here is a list of their ratings.

SEAFOOD RATINGS
Best Choices: Seafood in this category is abundant, well-managed and caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways.

Good Alternatives: These items are 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.

Avoid: Take a pass on these items for now. They are caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life or the environment.


Here is a link to a list of their healthiest recommendations for fish

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_health.aspx


So next time you decide to purchase some fish, consider its rating and your affect on the environment.