When making a big purchase we usually take some time to consider our options, and we always ask lots of questions about the product: what company made it? (ie. what kind is it), where did it come from? how was it made? (what materials were used), what's inside?, etc.
These are all important questions that we need to ask before purchasing, say,a computer.
So, why don't we ask these same questions when purchasing our food. Buying food may not cost as much as a computer, but we are putting it inside of our bodies.
When I say food, I am thinking mainly of meats; cow, pig, and specifically fish. In a world where the fish populations are rapidly decreasing, it amazes me that local supermarkets and restaurants still stock their shelves with 'Fresh Fish' on a daily basis - and customers continue to buy it with no questions asked. The list of questions above can easily be applied when purchasing fish, and your local market or restaurant should be able to provide you with some answers.
Let's quickly go through some of these questions regarding fish and the reasons why they are important to ask.
1. What kind is it? This is the first question that you should ask, especially when it comes to fish like tuna: is it bluefin, yellow tail, big eye... Asking this question allows you to make an ethical choice; was that Atlantic halibut really worth eating if you know that it is a long lived species that matures slowly and abundance has been extremely low. This is an important question as it allows the customer to make a healthy decision and also informs the restaurants and markets that people are looking for answers and sustainable products.
2.Where did it come from? This is an important question because you will be told whether the fish is farmed or wild caught and what body of water it was taken from. Some people believe that eating farmed salmon is a sustainable alternative to wild caught salmon; however, it is important to remember that farmed fish are usually fed with feed made from wild fish, they are usually given antibiotics and vaccines to fight the infections that occur in farmed fish, and the large pens also create water pollution. When ordering salmon the best option is Alaskan Salmon, which is managed well and has a fairly healthy habitat.
3.How was it caught? The answer to this question will provide you with information regarding how much damage was done to ocean life in order to catch your fish. Bottom trawls, longlines, dredges, midwater gillnets, and pelagic longline are the ones to stay away from. These methods of capture have a negative impact on habitat, both physically and biologically, and they also produce high bycatch volumes. The methods of capture with the lowest impact on the ocean are hook and line, purse seines, and midwater trawls.
4. What's inside? With this question you are not literally asking about what is inside the fish, but about what kind of pollutants are in the fish. If the fish was farmed, was it pumped full of antibiotics? If it was wild caught what are the common mercury levels in the species.
Here is a list of websites that are very helpful when trying to find information about edible fish:
www.seachoice.org (Canadian)
www.blueocean.org
www.fishbase.org
www.fao.org
www.mbayaq.org
www.redlist.org
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