I’m not much of a seafood eater, but I do like fish, and wild caught organic fish is typically very healthy, so I try to eat it. However, I want to make sure that I’m purchasing and eating sustainable fish. How do you tell which fish is most sustainable? When you look at the packages of fish in the grocery store or order fish at a restaurant, there are wild caught and farmed raised options, both methods speak to sustainability, but can they really both be sustainable?  

The short answer is yes, both farmed and wild caught seafood can be sustainable. However, what needs to be considered is the practices associated with wild caught vs. farmed. In addition to its type, some seafood is more sustainable wild caught, whereas some is more sustainable farmed. Given that both options can be sustainable, how, as consumers, can we know the difference? Luckily for us, there are several organizations who have already done the work, and even have apps which we can download on our phones. Whether we’re wandering the aisles of the grocery store or perusing the menu at a restaurant, we can determine which seafood is going to be the most sustainable option. For the most part, farm raised is the least desirable, as they’re not as clean or fresh as wild caught, and have added hormones and chemicals.

Probably the most well-known seafood app is The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch App. This app is fairly comprehensive, providing up to date recommendations, the ability to search for fish types based on common names, including sushi, as well as a listing of local restaurants and stores selling sustainable seafood options near you. The National Resources Defense Council provides a guide on their website detailing mercury levels in each type of fish, letting you know which to eat and which to avoid, as well as tips on how to ensure the food you purchase is the most sustainable. The World Wildlife Fund makes it easy for you on your travels by providing apps and pocket guides for several different countries as well. Finding sustainable seafood doesn’t have to be difficult. You just have to know where to look!