Green News Blog

Oceana.org Provides a Valuable Guide for Ocean Friendly Seafood

October 23, 2007 - Do you eat seafood? Perhaps you are on the Mediterranean diet or are a devoted Pescetarian? Well, if you are, do you know where your seafood comes from? Ironically, not all seafood actually comes from the sea. Due to over fishing, much of your grocery store bought seafood comes from mainland fish farms right here in the U.S.

While fish farms have helped to repopulate fish species that were decimated by irresponsible fishing practices, they have also produced some negative impacts, including environmental pollution. This is precisely why the Blue Ocean Institute's MiniGuide to Ocean Friendly Seafood is a gem when it comes to purchasing the types of seafood that are most sustainable for the environment, and most importantly, the sea life itself!

I suppose this is a good time to mention Oceana.org. I never would have found Blue Ocean Institute's publication without Oceana.org, whose website is a vast resource for several worthwhile campaigns. Some of these campaigns include "Stop Dirty Fishing", "Stop Seafood Contamination" and "Stop Climate Change". Not only does Oceana educate readers on these issues, they offer tools and suggestions on how individuals can get involved to make a difference.

The MiniGuide to Ocean Friendly Seafood is just one of these many tools. I printed it off and was amazed how helpful this guide is. Besides listing the most common store bought and restaurant bought seafood on the market, it explains the repercussions of fishing methods used to harvest particular species. Some of them are given a green light, meaning that eating them is a sustainable choice, while others are given warnings and flat-out red flags. Did you know that farmed Atlantic salmon are known for being overmedicated with antibiotics and that salmon farms contribute to water pollution? I didn't! But that's definitely going to prompt me to ask my seafood grocer where their salmon came from.

I strongly urge anyone who has an interest in helping to save our earth, environment and oceans to visit Oceana.org. You can sign up for free membership and become a Wave Maker, who Oceana accurately defines as anyone who is committed to publicly promoting and supporting positive change, specifically in regards to the benefit of the world's ocean's.

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