wild Alaskan salmon, farmed Arctic char or rainbow trout for farmed salmon (Atlantic salmon in U.S.catfish for orange roughy and Chilean seabass There are a variety of fish species with similar flavors and textures, so there is no need to choose an Eco-Worst fish when you can substitute an Eco-Best. If you think you're being served a less desirable substitute or a mislabeled fish, press the chef or fish seller for answers. Wacky labels you know not to be true, such as "farmed Chilean seabass" (only caught in the wild) or "wild Atlantic salmon" (an endangered species and not commercially available).Out-of-season fish, like wild salmon from Alaska, being sold “fresh” in winter months.A price too good to be true for a highly desired fish like red snapper or grouper.Some things that should raise red flags are: Being informed and knowing your seafood is the best way to arm yourself against fraud. Recently there have been numerous reports of fraud occurring in restaurants, supermarkets and with suppliers, both in the U.S. Unfortunately, it wasn’t an isolated incident. In perhaps the most well-known case of fish mislabeling, The New York Times showed that fish sold as wild salmon by high-end New York City markets was mostly farm-raised, selling for as much as $29 a pound. Food Drug and Drug Administration, which oversees the safety of our seafood supply, defines fraud as the substitution of a less expensive fish for a more expensive kind for example, tilapia for red snapper, farmed salmon for wild, or basa or tra (Vietnamese catfish) for grouper. (red snapper, wild salmon, grouper, etc.)? These are prime candidates for fish fraud.įish fraud: Are you getting what you think you're getting? Are populations of this fish healthy and abundant? (Small, fast-growing fish can withstand more fishing pressure, while large, slow-growing species are more vulnerable to overfishing.).If it is wild, how was it caught? (Were long lines used, or was it caught by pole? Long lines often catch extra unwanted "bycatch.").If it is farmed, how was it grown? (Was it raised in a polluting open net pen or in a contained tank or pond?).Is the fish wild-caught or farm-raised?.
Here are the best things to ask, especially if labels do not provide enough information: Your restaurateur or fishmonger may not have all the answers, but the more questions you ask, the more they will recognize the need to provide better information to their customers. There is no universal seafood labeling system for grocery stores, restaurants, or fish markets, so buying eco-friendly fish often requires a little diligence on your part. Educating Yourself on Sustainable Fishing Practices And remember, an informed consumer requesting eco-friendly fish sends a powerful conservation message. But when you’re at the fish counter or restaurant, knowing what questions to ask is key. Our Seafood selector does a lot of the work for you, synthesizing and simplifying the research. Buying eco-friendly fish is easier when you know where it’s from and how it was caught or farmed.