Seafood

WATCH Sustainable Seafood Guide

Sushi

July 2009

®

MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM

The seafood recommendations in this guide are credited to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation ©2009. All rights reserved. Printed on recycled paper.

Why Do Your Seafood Choices Matter?

Worldwide, the demand for seafood is increasing. Yet many populations of the large fish we enjoy eating are overfished and, in the U.S., we import 80% of our seafood to meet the demand. Destructive fishing and fish farming practices only add to the problem.

By purchasing fish caught or farmed using environmentally friendly practices, you’re supporting healthy, abundant oceans.

Learn More

Our recommendations are researched by Monterey Bay Aquarium scientists. For more information about your favorite seafoods, including items not listed here, visit www.seafoodwatch.org.

Pocket guides are updated twice yearly. Get current information on your mobile device, on our website or by adding our free app to your iPhone.

You Can Make A Difference

Support ocean-friendly seafood in three easy steps:

1. Purchase seafood from the green list or, if unavailable, the yellow list. Or look for the Marine Stewardship Council blue eco-label in stores and restaurants.

2. When you buy seafood, ask where your seafood comes from and whether it was farmed or wild-caught. 3. Tell your friends about Seafood Watch. The more people that ask for ocean-friendly seafood, the better!

Click here for a sushi pocket guide that you can carry with you.

B E S T C HOI C E S 

Amaebi/Spot prawn (BC)

Awabi/Abalone (US farmed)

Gindara/Sablefish/Black cod (AK+, BC)

Ikura/Salmon roe (AK wild)+

Iwana/Arctic char (farmed)

Iwashi/Pacific sardines (US)

Izumidai/Tilapia (US farmed)

Kaki/Oysters (farmed)

Kanikama/Surimi/Imitation crab

(AK pollock+)

Katsuo/Bonito/Skipjack tuna

(troll/pole)

Masago/Smelt roe (Iceland)

Mirugai/Giant clam/Geoduck (wild)

Muurugai/Mussels (farmed)

Sake/Salmon (AK wild)+

Sawara/Spanish mackerel (US)*

Shiro Maguro/Albacore tuna

(troll/pole, BC or US+)

Suzuki/Striped bass (farmed or wild*)

Uni/Sea urchin roe (Canada)

GOOD A LT E R N AT I V E S 

Amaebi/Spot prawn (US)

Ebi/Shrimp (US, Canada)

Gindara/Sablefish/Black cod

(CA, OR or WA)

Hirame/Karei/Flounders, Soles (Pacific)

Hotate/Sea scallops (wild)

Izumidai/Tilapia (Central America

farmed)

Kani/Crab: Blue*, King (US), Snow

Kanikama/Surimi/Imitation crab

(except AK pollock+)

Kampachi/Yellowtail (US farmed)

Maguro/Tuna: Bigeye, Yellowfin

(troll/pole)

Masago/Smelt roe (Canada)

Sake/Salmon (WA wild)*

Shiro Maguro/Albacore tuna (Hawaii)*

Squid

Tai/Red porgy (US)

Toro/Tuna: Bigeye, Yellowfin (troll/pole)

Uni/Sea urchin roe (CA)

AVOI D

Ankimo/Monkfish liver

Ankoh/Monkfish

Ebi/Shrimp (imported)

Hamachi/Hiramasa/Yellowtail

(imported, farmed)

Hirame/Karei/Flounders, Soles,

Halibut (Atlantic)

Hon Maguro/Bluefin tuna*

Izumidai/Tilapia (Asia farmed)

Kani/Crab: King (imported)

Maguro/Tuna: Bigeye* , Yellowfin*

Sake/Salmon (farmed, including

Atlantic)*

Shiro Maguro/Albacore tuna*

(imported)

Tai/Red snapper

Tako/Octopus

Toro/Tuna: Bigeye *, Bluefin*,

Yellowfin *

Unagi/Freshwater eel

Uni/Sea urchin roe (Maine)

Best Choices are abundant, wellmanaged and caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways.

Good Alternatives are an option, but there are concerns with how they’re caught or farmed—or with the health of their habitat due to other human impacts.

Avoid for now as these items are caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life or the environment. Seafood may appear in more than one column

Key

AK = Alaska BC = British Columbia

CA = California OR = Oregon

WA = Washington

* Limit consumption due to concerns about mercury or other contaminants. Visit www.edf.org/seafood

+ Some or all of this fishery is certified as sustainable to the Marine Stewardship Council standard. Visit www.msc.org

Support Ocean-Friendly Seafood