SeaChoice
SeaChoice is a program of Sustainable Seafood Canada that uses the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch recommendations to raise consumer awareness about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources. It is best known for publishing consumer guides for responsible seafood purchasing. SeaChoice evaluates fisheries based on habitat/ecosystem impacts, stock status, inherent vulnerability, bycatch, and management regimes.[1]
Sustainable Seafood Canada is a Canadian coalition of environmental organizations working together to raise awareness and deliver solutions for sustainable fisheries. The organization consists of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, the David Suzuki Foundation, the Ecology Action Centre, Living Oceans Society and British Columbia's chapter of the Sierra Club of Canada.[2] SeaChoice collaborates with the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program.
Seafood list
The group gives Canada-centric lists of recommendations for the best seafood choices, fish which have "some concerns" and fish to avoid. The "avoid" category is reserved for seafood which is overfished and/or fished or farmed in ways that harm other marine life or the environment. Health alerts for fish with high levels of contaminants (e.g. mercury, dioxins, PCBs) are also noted, although they may appear in any category.
The SeaChoice website includes both regional and country-wide guides for Canada. The organization also produces a guide for sushi.[3] Pocket guides are also available from the organization.[4]
Recommended seafood from SeaChoice includes Alaska pollock, longline Pacific cod, land-based rainbow trout, troll or pole-caught albacore tuna, United States spiny lobster, farmed Arctic char, Pacific herring and sardines.
Partnerships
In March 2010, SeaChoice announced an agreement with Federated Co-operatives, an organization representing over 250 co-operatives. The agreement includes a sustainability plan for seafood sales and procurement.[5] SeaChoice has also partnered with Canada Safeway, and Buy Low/Nestors Market.[6] Bento Nouveau, Canada's largest sushi company, partnered with SeaChoice in June 2010.[7] A partnership with Overwaitea Food Group, a supermarket chain in Western Canada, ended in August 2015.[8]
See also
- Conservation status
- Mercury in fish
- Sustainable seafood advisory lists and certification
- Seafood Choices Alliance
References
- ↑ Small Fisheries Cuts Could Conserve Large Coastal Ecosystems. Environment News Service. July 22, 2009.
- ↑ SeaChoice Launch: New SeaChoice program provides Canadians sustainable seafood information from coast to coast to coast. SeaChoice website. September 27, 2006.
- ↑ Sampson, Susan. Sushi seafood ranked for sustainability. Toronto Star. April 29, 2009.
- ↑ Ali, Carolyn. New wallet sized SeaChoice guide available for download. Straight.com April 23, 2009.
- ↑ Local Co-ops to provide SeaChoice products. Westerly News. March 25, 2010.
- ↑ SeaChoice, FCL Forge Sustainable Seafood Partnership. Progressive Grocer. March 23, 2010.
- ↑ Sustainable sushi is the industry’s future. SeaChoice website. June 18, 2010.
- ↑ Overwaitea Food Group dropped by sustainable seafood program SeaChoice
External links
- Official website
- Canada's Seafood Guide, a pocket guide from SeaChoice
- Canada's Sustainable Sushi Guide, a pocket guide from SeaChoice
