Sustainable Seafood Choices at Online Seafood Market Websites

If you’ve checked in at your favorite seafood market lately, you’ve probably seen the phrase “sustainable seafood.” Sustainable seafood initiatives have taken hold in a big way. Not too many years ago, many favorite ocean delicacies, like abalone, swordfish and fresh salmon, were endangers, thanks to over-fishing and environmental hazards. Now, thanks to initiatives that lay out ways to catch fish that aren’t damaging to the environment and other sea creatures, as well as seafood farming initiatives, seafood and fish lovers now have a wide choice of delicious selections that are farmed, raised or harvested in a way that maintains, and sometimes increases, the fish and shellfish population. Responsible vendors who sell seafood online often label fish and shellfish that have been caught sustainably so that consumers can make more informed choices about the seafood they eat.

These are some of the sustainable seafood choices you can look for at your favorite online seafood market.

Buy king salmon, also called Chinook salmon, that is wild-caught locally during the season. In California and other Northwestern states, the departments of wildlife and fisheries keep a close eye on the king salmon population and manage the salmon season accordingly. In general, if a market is advertising fresh salmon – not king salmon or Chinook salmon – you may be buying Atlantic salmon, which is not a sustainable seafood choice. Always look for the king when you buy fresh salmon online.

Diver scallops, those huge, meaty morsels of delicate sea sweetness, are another sustainable seafood choice you’ll find at your favorite online seafood market. When you buy diver scallops, always ask for dry scallops – that’s scallops without the addition of STP to help preserve them and plump them up. Dry scallops are much tastier and cut more easily for sushi and sashimi.

U.S.-caught swordfish is either a best choice for sustainable seafood or a good alternative sustainable seafood. When you buy swordfish at an online seafood market with a local presence, you can always ask to find out if they’re selling swordfish caught locally using sustainable fishing methods.  

Fresh abalone is a delectable seafood treat. Most seafood markets in California offer California Red abalone, sustainably farmed mollusks that are a Monterey Bay Aquarium Best Choice for sustainable seafood.

Albacore tuna is one of the first fish that was popularly advertised as being sustainably caught. In general, fresh albacore tuna caught in U.S. Pacific or Canadian Pacific waters are likely to be sustainable. Always look for Pacific albacore when you buy albacore tuna. It’s the more sustainable choice.

When you buy seafood from an online seafood market, take the few extra minutes to contact and ask them if their fish are sustainably caught, or look for the information on their website. You’ll be making a contribution to the future of seafood and making sure that we’ll be able to enjoy fresh, delicious, wild-caught seafood far into the future.