Choosing Sustainabilty for Enjoying your Favorite Seafood

One very important component to beach living, is also realizing that we have to become better stewards of our coasts, and of all the incredible life that lives in our oceans. We also need to understand that the sea, and its' gifts are essential to our lives on the shore.

Making smarter choices about sustainable seafood at the grocery store is such a small step towards helping that effort. Ask questions, and educate yourself before deciding what to buy.  Here's just one example:

I love Salmon  - like its' versatility, like its' flavor and texture -you really can't go wrong when deciding to serve Salmon to guests.   (See Melissa's Recipe, June 2009 - http://everythingcoastal.blogspot.com/2009/06/more-salmon-stories-from-northwest.html )

SEAFOOD	RATING	MARKET NAMES	WHERE CAUGHT	HOW CAUGHT
Salmon		Coho, Sockeye, King, Pink, Red, Sake	Alaska	Wild-caught
Salmon		Coho, Silver Salmon	U.S.	Farmed in Tank Systems
Salmon		Coho, Sockeye, King, Pink, Red, Sake	Washington	Wild-caught
Salmon		Farmed Salmon, Atlantic Salmon, Sake	Worldwide	Farmed
Salmon Roe		Ikura, Roe	Alaska	Wild-caught

(Thank you Monterey Bay Aquarium for the above chart)

Seafood Watch - developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of my favorite tools to educate the consumer about what the best seafood choices might be. Simply put your seafood choice in their handy search engine and it will return the best choices for what to buy and why.

Here's the link! http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx
*** Please take note that there is also downloadable-printable pocket guide developed specifically for every major seafood region.
***If you have an Iphone - there is also handy FREE application to use.  I highly recommend this easy app, and do use it all of the time, both at the grocery store and when we are dining ou.

Just some more food for thought, and yet such an easy choice to make.