Choose Safe, Sustainable Fish

With many species overfished, or contaminated, it can be hard to choose wisely at the fish counter. Pocket guides and apps now make it easier.

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Photo: Anna Bakulina/ IStock

By Selene Aparicio

According to a study conducted by Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the oceans will be all but empty of fish by 2048. Why? Species are being depleted by overfishing, pollution, habitat loss and climate change. At this point, 29% of commercially valuable species have declined by 90% and if overfishing continues at its current rate, the world's oceans could suffer serious consequences.

Our responsibility of choosing the best fish is twofold. Apart from dealing with the dangers of overfishing and the possibility of a future with empty oceans, we also have to worry about protecting our health and avoiding contaminated fish with unhealthy concentrations of mercury, PCBs and dioxins – typically meaty fish at the top of the food chain, like tuna and swordfish. These contaminants pose a health risk, especially to woman who are pregnant or nursing and children.

What can we do to ensure we don't contribute to this problem? Research what species are safe to eat and sustainably caught or farmed before buying fish. There are many sustainable alternatives that we can choose to satisfy our fish cravings and look out for our planet at the same time. For example, we can replace farmed salmon with Arctic char which comes mainly from eco-friendly farms and both are pretty similar in taste.

If fish is part of your everyday diet, you don't have to eliminate it from your life. Simply dig a little and find out what types of fish you can consume regularly. Use Environmental Defense Fund's Seafood Selector to choose fish that are both harvested sustainably and free of contaminants. There's not only a downloadable pocket guide, but yes, there's an app for that, too.

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