FISH: The right choice?

On October 6th, 2008 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) placed Sockeye salmon on its threatened species list. The most threatened populations of Sockeye salmon are the British Columbian Sockeye that spawn in the Fraser River and the Skeena River. The full report can be found at www.stateofthesalmon.org/IUCN/

So we have known for a while that farmed salmon are bad. We have always beentold that the wild Pacific Sockeye is the best choice and that we should avoid tuna due to toxic levels of mercury contamination. Now we are being warned that we should limit wild Pacific Sockeye consumption as it is on its way to becoming extinct unless a federal program is implemented to clean up their habitat and limit their consumption.

Make healthy choices for healthy oceans!

I hope we are no where near being the last generation to feed safely from our waters.

Here is an updated list from an organization called SeaChoice on which fish/seafoods are the best choices. For more information on SeaChoice, visit www.seachoice.org/.

Fish: The right choice:

• Catfish (US) - Farmed
• Caviar/Sturgeon - Farmed
• Clams - Farmed
• Cod: Pacific (US) - Wild
• Fish Sticks (Pollock) - Alaskan
• Hake: Pacific (Canada)
• Herring: Atlantic (US), Pacific (Canada)
• Imitation Crab: Pollock (Alaskan)
• Lobster: Rock, Spiny (Australia, US, Western Baja)
• Mussels - Farmed
• Pollock (Alaskan)
• Sablefish (Alaskan, BC)
• Sardine: Brisling, Sprats (US)
• Shrimp/Prawn: Sidestripe, Spot (BC) - Trap-caught
• Tilapia (US) - Farmed
• Trout: Rainbow - Farmed