Organic/Natural Eaters: Does it matter what kind of seafood you eat?

[Anonymous]

For those of you who eat mostly organic, does it matter what kind of fish you buy? We stick mostly to organic fruit and vegetables, and organic/natural (no hormones or antibiotics, grain/grass fed) meat. We try to eat seafood a couple times a week. It's also the one dinner option that can be less expensive.

For example, I buy those bags of individually sealed tilapia from Giant. It's so much less expensive than the seafood at Whole Food! Is there an issue with this?

[Anonymous]

It matters a great deal, but there are different issues with every type of fish. Frankly, it's exhausting to keep up with it.

[Anonymous]

Yes. If you care about PCB's, heavy metals and other poisons in your fish, it matters. Fish is an extremely unregulated food source. You really have to educate yourself. Here's a link to download the SeaFood Watch list:
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/content/media/MBA_SeafoodWatch_Jan2013_BuyersGuide.pdf

They make a portable card that you can carry in your back pocket to refer to when you're out at a restaurant.

[Anonymous]

Also, you have to decide whether your focus is your health, or the envoronmental impacts of certain fish. They're not always compatible.

[Anonymous]

Best Choices-- This seafood is well managed, caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways:

Abalone (U.S. Farmed)
Arctic Char (U.S., Canada, Norway, Iceland; Farmed in Recirculating Systems)
Barramundi (U.S. Farmed in Fully Recirculating Systems)
Capelin (Iceland, Wild-caught)
Catfish (U.S. Farmed)
Clams (Worldwide, Farmed)
Clams, Softshell/Steamers (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Cobia (U.S. Farmed)
Cod, Atlantic (Hook-and-line from Iceland and Northeast Arctic (by Norway, Russia))
Cod, Pacific (U.S. Bottom Longline, Jig and Trap)
Crab, Dungeness (California, Oregon and Washington, Trap)
Crab, Kona (Australia, Wild-caught)
Crab, Stone (U.S. Atlantic, U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Trap)
Crawfish/Crayfish (U.S. Farmed)
Croaker, Atlantic (U.S. Non-trawl)
Giant Clam/Geoduck (U.S., Canadian Pacific, Wild-caught)
Haddock (U.S. Atlantic, Hook-and-line)
Halibut, Pacific (U.S. Wild-caught)
Lobster, California Spiny (California, Wild-caught)
Lobster, Caribbean Spiny (Florida, Wild-caught)
Lobster, Spiny (Wild-caught from Baja California, Mexico)
Mackerel, Atlantic (Canada, Wild-caught)
Mackerel, King (Wild-caught from U.S. Atlantic and U.S. Gulf of Mexico)
Mackerel, Spanish (Wild-caught from U.S. Atlantic and U.S. Gulf of Mexico)
Mahi Mahi (U.S. Atlantic, Troll/Pole)
Mullet, Striped (Wild-caught from U.S. Atlantic, U.S. Gulf of Mexico)
Mussels (Worldwide, Farmed)
Oysters (Worldwide, Farmed)
Perch, Yellow (Lake Erie, Wild-caught)
Pollock, Atlantic (Gillnet and Purse Seine from Norway)
Prawn, Freshwater (U.S. Farmed)
Prawn, Spot (Canadian Pacific, Wild-caught)
Rockfish, Black (Hook-and-line from California, Oregon and Washington)
Sablefish/Black Cod (Alaska and Canadian Pacific, Wild-caught)
Salmon (Drift Gillnet, Purse Seine and Troll, from Alaska)
Salmon Roe (Drift Gillnet, Purse Seine and Troll, from Alaska)
Salmon, Coho (U.S. Farmed in Tank Systems)
Sardines, Pacific (U.S. Wild-caught)
Scad, Big-eye (Hawaii, Wild-caught)
Scad, Mackerel (Hawaii, Wild-caught)
Scallops (Farmed, Worldwide)
Scallops, Sea (Diver-caught in Laguna Ojo de Liebre and Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico)
Scallops, Weathervane (Alaska, Dredged)
Sea Urchin Roe (Canada, Wild-caught)
Seatrout, Spotted ( Wild-caught from Florida and Louisiana)
Shrimp (U.S. Farmed in Fully Recirculating Systems or Inland Ponds)
Shrimp, Pink (Oregon, Wild-caught)
Squid, Longfin (U.S. Atlantic, Trawl)
Striped Bass (U.S. Atlantic, Hook-and-line)
Striped Bass (U.S. Farmed)
Swordfish (Harpoon and Handline from Hawaii)
Swordfish (Harpoon and Handline-caught from Canada, the U.S., North Atlantic and East Pacific)
Tilapia (U.S. Farmed)
Trout, Rainbow/Steelhead (U.S. Farmed)
Tuna, Albacore (Troll/Pole from the Canadian and U.S. Pacific)
Tuna, Albacore ("White" Canned) (Troll/Pole from the Canadian and U.S. Pacific)
Tuna, Bigeye (Troll/Pole from the U.S. Atlantic)
Tuna, Skipjack (Worldwide, Troll/Pole)
Tuna, Skipjack ("Light" Canned) (Worldwide, Troll/Pole)
Tuna, Yellowfin (Troll/Pole from the Pacific and U.S. Atlantic)
White Seabass (Hook-and-line from California)
Whitefish, Lake (Wild-caught from Lake Huron and Lake Superior)
Whitefish, Lake (Trap-net from Lake Michigan)
Wreckfish (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)

Good Alternatives-- not the most healthy habitat:

Barramundi (Australia, Farmed in Fully Recirculating Systems)
Basa (Imported, Farmed)
Black Drum (Trotline from U.S. Gulf of Mexico)
Black Sea Bass (U.S. Mid-Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Bluefish (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Bluenose (Southern Pacific, Wild-caught)
Capelin (Canada, Wild-caught)
Caviar, Sturgeon (U.S. Farmed)
Clams, Atlantic Surf (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Clams, Hard (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Clams, Ocean Quahog (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Cod, Atlantic (Bottom Gillnet, Bottom Longline, Bottom Trawl & Danish Seine from Iceland & Northeast Arctic)
Cod, Atlantic (Hook & line from U.S. Gulf of Maine)
Cod, Pacific (U.S. Trawl)
Crab, Blue (U.S. Trap)
Crab, Dungeness (Alaska, Trap)
Crab, Imitation (Alaska Pollock) (Alaska, Wild-caught)
Crab, Imitation (not Alaska Pollock) (Worldwide, Wild-caught)
Crab, Jonah (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Crab, King (U.S. Trap)
Crab, Kona (Hawaii, Wild-caught)
Crab, Snow (Wild-caught from Alaska and Canada)
Croaker, Atlantic (U.S. Trawl)
Dogfish, Spiny (British Columbia, Bottom Longline)
Flounder (Wild-caught from U.S. Pacific)
Flounder, Summer (Wild-Caught from U.S. Atlantic)
Greater Amberjack (Hook-and-line from U.S. South Atlantic)
Grouper, Black, Red (U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Wild-caught)
Grouper, Hawaiian (Hawaii, Hook-and-line)
Haddock (U.S. Atlantic, Trawl)
Haddock (Iceland Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Haddock (Bottom Trawl from Canadian Atlantic)
Hake, Offshore, Red and Silver (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Halibut, California (U.S. Pacific, Hook-and-line and Bottom Trawl)
Herring, Atlantic (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Herring, Lake (Lake Superior, Wild-caught)
Lingcod (U.S., Canada, Wild-caught)
Lobster, American/Maine (Trap-caught from Canada and Northeast U.S.)
Lobster, Caribbean Spiny (Bahamas, Wild-caught)
Mackerel, Atlantic (U.S. Wild-caught)
Mahi Mahi (U.S. Longline)
Mahi Mahi (Imported, Troll/Pole)
Mahi Mahi (Hawaii, Troll/Pole)
Marlin, Blue (Hawaii, Wild-caught)
New Zealand Tai Snapper (New Zealand, Bottom Longline)
Octopus (Hawaii, Wild-caught)
Octopus (Gulf of California, Wild-caught)
Opah (Hawaii, Longline)
Oysters (Wild-caught from U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Canada)
Pangasius (Imported, Farmed)
Perch, Yellow (Lake Huron and Lake Ontario, Wild-caught)
Plaice, Alaska (Wild-caught from Canada and U.S. Pacific)
Plaice, European (Danish seine and Bottom Trawl from Iceland)
Pollock, Alaska (Alaska, Wild-caught)
Pollock, Atlantic (Danish Seine, Trawl from Norway)
Pollock, Atlantic (Iceland, Set Gillnet)
Pollock, Atlantic (Wild-caught from U.S. and Canada; Danish Seine and Trawl from Norway)
Pomfret (Hawaii, Longline)
Pompano, Florida (U.S. Wild-caught)
Prawn, Spot (U.S. Pacific)
Red Porgy (U.S. Wild-caught)
Rockfish (Hook-and-line and Jig from the Pacific)
Sablefish/Black Cod (California, Oregon and Washington, Wild-caught)
Salmon (Drift Gillnet, Purse Seine and Troll from California, Oregon and Washington)
Salmon, Coho (British Columbia, Wild-caught)
Sanddabs, Pacific (U.S. Wild-caught)
Scallops, Bay (Diver-caught in Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico)
Scallops, Sea (Diver-caught in Sechura Bay, Peru)
Scallops, Sea (Canadian Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Scallops, Sea (U.S. Atlantic, Dredged)
Scup (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Sea Urchin Roe (California, Wild-caught)
Seatrout, Spotted (Wild-caught from Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia)
Shark, Common Thresher (California and Hawaii, Wild-caught)
Shark, Shortfin Mako (California and Hawaii, Wild-caught)
Shrimp (Wild-caught from U.S. Gulf of Mexico, U.S. South Atlantic)
Shrimp (U.S. Farmed in Open Systems)
Shrimp (Thailand, Farmed in Fully Recirculating Systems)
Shrimp, Northern (U.S. and Canadian Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Shrimp, Rock (U.S. Wild-caught)
Smelt, Rainbow (Wild-caught from Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie)
Snapper, Gray (Hawaii, Wild-caught)
Snapper, Gray, Lane, Mutton, Yellowtail (Wild-caught from U.S. Atlantic and U.S. Gulf of Mexico)
Snapper, Pink (Hawaii, Hook-and-line)
Snapper, Red/Squirrelfish (Hawaii, Hook-and-line)
Snapper, Ruby/Longtail (Hawaii, Hook-and-line)
Snapper, Silk (Wild-caught from U.S. Caribbean, U.S. Gulf of Mexico and U.S. South Atlantic)
Sole (Wild-caught from U.S. Pacific)
Spearfish, Shortbill (Hawaii, Wild-caught)
Squid, Argentine Shortfin (Imported, Wild-caught)
Squid, Japanese Flying (Imported, Wild-caught)
Squid, Jumbo (Gulf of California, Wild-caught)
Squid, Market (California, Purse Seine)
Squid, Shortfin (U.S. Atlantic, Trawl)
Striped Bass (U.S. Atlantic, Gillnet and Pound Net)
Sturgeon (U.S. Farmed)
Sturgeon, White (Wild-caught from Oregon and Washington)
Swai (Imported, Farmed)
Swordfish (Drift Gillnet from California)
Swordfish (Longline from Hawaii and U.S. Atlantic)
Tilapia (Farmed in Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Honduras)
Tilefish, Golden (U.S. Mid-Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Trevally/Jack (Hawaii, Wild-caught)
Trout, Lake (Lake Huron and Lake Superior, Wild-caught)
Tuna, Albacore (Hawaii, Longline)
Tuna, Albacore (South Atlantic, Troll/Pole)
Tuna, Albacore ("White" Canned) (Worldwide, Troll/Pole Except Canadian and U.S. Pacific)
Tuna, Bigeye (U.S. Atlantic, Longline)
Tuna, Bigeye (Worldwide, Troll/Pole)
Tuna, Blackfin (Atlantic, Troll/Pole)
Tuna, Skipjack (Longline from Hawaii and U.S. Atlantic)
Tuna, Tongol (Malaysia, Wild-caught)
Tuna, Tongol (Worldwide, Troll/Pole)
Tuna, Yellowfin (Longline from Hawaii and U.S. Atlantic)
Tuna, Yellowfin (Worldwide Except Pacific and U.S. Atlantic, Troll/Pole)
Turbot, Greenland (U.S., Canadian Pacific, Wild-caught)
Wahoo (Wild-caught from Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii)
Walleye (Lake Erie, Wild-caught)
White Seabass (California, Gillnet)
Whitefish, Lake (Lake Erie, Wild-caught)
Whitefish, Lake ( Set Gillnet from Lake Michigan)
Whitefish, Round (Wild-caught from Lake Huron, Lake Michigan)
Yellowtail, California (Wild-caught from the U.S.)

AVOID--unhealthy habitat, negative impact in farming practices on the environment--cultivation destroys other marine life and threatens populations.

Barramundi (Imported, Farmed in Open Systems)
Caviar, Paddlefish (U.S. Wild-caught)
Caviar, Sturgeon (Imported, Wild-caught)
Chilean Seabass (Southern Ocean, Wild-caught)
Cobia (Imported, Farmed)
Cod, Atlantic (Trawl-caught from Canadian and U.S. Atlantic)
Cod, Pacific (Imported, Wild-caught)
Conch, Queen (Worldwide, Wild-caught)
Corvina, Gulf (Gulf of California, Wild-caught)
Crab, King (Russia, Trap)
Crawfish/Crayfish (Imported, Farmed)
Dab, Common (Danish Seine from Iceland)
Dogfish, Spiny (Wild-caught from Canadian Atlantic and U.S.)
Eel, Freshwater (Worldwide, Farmed)
Flounder (Wild-caught from U.S. Atlantic, Except Summer Flounder)
Grenadier (U.S. Pacific, Wild-caught)
Grouper (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Grouper, Gag, Snowy, Warsaw, Yellowedge (U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Wild-caught)
Hake, White (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Halibut, Atlantic (U.S. Wild-caught)
Halibut, California (U.S. Pacific, Set Gillnet)
Lobster, Caribbean Spiny (Brazil, Wild-caught)
Mahi Mahi (Imported, Longline)
Marlin, Blue (Imported, Longline)
Marlin, Striped (Worldwide, Wild-caught)
Monkfish (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Monkfish Liver (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
New Zealand Tai Snapper (New Zealand, Danish Seine, Trawl)
Octopus (Philippines, Wild-caught)
Octopus, Common/Sushi (Worldwide, Wild-caught)
Opah (Imported, Longline)
Orange Roughy (Worldwide, Wild-caught)
Plaice, American (Wild-caught from U.S. Atlantic)
Pollock, Atlantic (Danish Seine and Trawl from Iceland)
Rockfish (Pacific, Trawl)
Salmon, Atlantic (Worldwide Except U.S. Farmed in Tank Systems, Farmed including Atlantic)
Sardines, Atlantic (Mediterranean, Wild-caught)
Sea Turtles (Gulf of California, Wild-caught)
Sea Urchin Roe (Maine, Wild-caught)
Shad, American (U.S. Atlantic, Gillnet)
Shark (Wild-caught Worldwide, Except Common Thresher and Shortfin Mako, from California and Hawaii)
Shrimp (Imported, Farmed Except Thailand Farmed in Fully Recirculating Systems)
Shrimp (Imported, Wild-Caught Except Canadian)
Shrimp (Mexico, Farmed in Open Systems)
Skates (U.S. Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Skipjack Tuna (Worldwide, Purse Seine)
Snapper, Red (U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Wild-caught)
Snapper, Red (Imported, Wild-caught)
Snapper, Vermilion (U.S. Wild-caught)
Sole (Wild-caught from U.S Atlantic)
Spearfish, Shortbill (Imported, Wild-caught)
Sturgeon (Imported, Wild-caught)
Swordfish (Imported, Longline)
Tilapia (Farmed from China and Taiwan)
Tilefish, Blueline (U.S. Gulf of Mexico and U.S. South Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Tilefish, Golden (U.S. Gulf of Mexico and U.S. South Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Totoaba (Gulf of California, Wild-caught)
Trout, Lake (Lake Michigan, Wild-caught)
Tuna (Canned) (Worldwide, Wild-caught Except Troll/Pole)
Tuna, Albacore (All Longline Except Hawaii)
Tuna, Albacore (North Atlantic, Wild-caught)
Tuna, Bigeye (Worldwide Except U.S. Atlantic, Longline)
Tuna, Blackfin (Atlantic, Longline and Purse Seine)
Tuna, Bluefin (Worldwide, Wild-caught)
Tuna, Bluefin (Worldwide, Ranched)
Tuna, Skipjack (Imported, Longline)
Tuna, Tongol (Worldwide, Gillnet and Purse Seine Except Malaysia)
Tuna, Yellowfin (Worldwide Except Hawaii and U.S. Atlantic, Longline)
Tuna, Yellowfin (Worldwide, Purse Seine)
Weakfish (Wild-caught from U.S. Atlantic)
Yellowtail (Australia, Farmed)
Yellowtail (Japan, Farmed)

[Anonymous]

Ask the fishmonger or waiter in the restaurant or store: Where does this fish come from--what country? As a rule, don't eat any fish caught by chinese fishermen and or imported from China.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks, I had no idea how complicated this is. I'm mostly concerned with health, which is why we try to eat seafood a couple times a week. Budget is also an issue. Spending $10 on a piece of fish for one meal isn't an option.

Are the lists from 8:39 and 8:46 geared towards environmental or health concerns?

[Anonymous]

I dont eat fish b/c of mercery levels and sustainability issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, you have to decide whether your focus is your health, or the envoronmental impacts of certain fish. They're not always compatible.

+1

Fish can be expensive so we usually eat smaller portions of it, rounding out the meal with an extra serving of veggies, etc. I'd rather eat a 3-4 ounce portion of excellent fish than a 6 ounce portion of fish that's not as good (meaning good for me/the environment/good tasting).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, you have to decide whether your focus is your health, or the envoronmental impacts of certain fish. They're not always compatible.

+1

Fish can be expensive so we usually eat smaller portions of it, rounding out the meal with an extra serving of veggies, etc. I'd rather eat a 3-4 ounce portion of excellent fish than a 6 ounce portion of fish that's not as good (meaning good for me/the environment/good tasting).

[Anonymous]

For mercury and other pollutants, a good rule of thumb is to eat from the bottom of the food chain. Sardines are safe, healthy and cheap!