Often times people think they are doing better for their health by eating fish. Yet we see more and more lab testing in fish and people showing high quantities of toxic metals and other substances including prescription drugs.
If you are a Pescatorian or a regular fish eater, know your fish and which ones you should and should not eat. Below is a fantastic chart offered by Sea Food Watch it’s the most current information available.
Use this guide to find ocean-friendly alternatives to seafood on the Seafood Watch “Avoid” list. You can also get this list on your cell phone with recommendations on safe fish to eat. Click here for more information on this free app.
For more information, and to learn more about species that do not appear on this list, visit www.seafoodwatch.org.
Download a printable version |
 |
 |
| Caviar and Sturgeon (Imported Wild-caught)Caviar, Paddlefish (U.S. Wild-caught) | Caviar (U.S. Farmed)Sturgeon: (U.S. Farmed)Sturgeon: White and Green (OR and WA Wild-caught) | |
| Chilean Seabass/Patagonian Toothfish* | Cobia (U.S. Farmed)Sablefish/Black Cod/Butterfish (AK, BC) | Sablefish/Black Cod/Butterfish (CA, OR, WA) |
| Cod: Atlantic (Trawl-caught from U.S. and Canadian Atlantic, Iceland and NE Arctic)Cod: Pacific (Imported) |
Cobia (U.S. Farmed)Cod: Pacific (U.S. Bottom Longline, Jig, Trap)Cod: Atlantic (Hook-and-line from Iceland and Northeast Arctic)
Haddock (U.S. Atlantic Hook-and-Line) |
Cod: Atlantic (Bottom Gillnet, Bottom Longline, Bottom Trawl and Danish Seine from Iceland and Northeast Arctic)Cod: Atlantic (U.S. Gulf of Maine Hook-and-line)Cod: Pacific (U.S. Trawl)
Haddock (U.S. Atlantic Trawl and Iceland Atlantic) |
| Crab: King (Imported) |
Crab: Dungeness; Kona (Australia); Stone | Crab: Blue* (U.S.); Jonah; King (U.S.), Kona (HI); Snow (Alaska, Canada) |
| Crayfish (Imported Farmed) |
Crayfish (U.S. Farmed)Spot Prawn (BC) | Spot Prawn (U.S.) |
| Flounders or Soles (Atlantic Wild-caught) |
Halibut: Pacific (U.S.) | Flounder, Sole, Sanddab (U.S. Pacific Wild-caught)*Summer Flounder (U.S. Atlantic Wild-caught)Turbot, Greenland* |
| Groupers (U.S. Atlantic*, U.S. Gulf of Mexico* and Hawaii)Grouper: Gag; Snowy; Warsaw; Yellowedge (U.S. Gulf of Mexico) | Mahi Mahi (Troll/Pole from the U.S. Atlantic)Striped Bass (Farmed or Wild-caught*) | Black Sea BassGrouper (HI)Grouper Black and Red (U.S. Gulf of Mexico)
Mahi Mahi (Imported Troll/Poll and U.S.) |
| Hake: White |
Tilapia (U.S. Farmed) | Hake: Silver, Red and OffshoreTilapia (Farmed in Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Honduras) |
| Halibut: Atlantic* or California* (Set Gillnet) |
Cobia (U.S. Farmed)Halibut: Pacific (U.S.)Tilapia (U.S. Farmed) | Flounder, Sole, Sanddab (U.S. Pacific Wild-caught)Summer Flounder (U.S. Atlantic Wild-caught)Turbot, Greenland* |
| Lobster: Spiny (Brazil) |
Lobster: Spiny (Baja California, Mexico, CA)Lobster: Caribbean Spiny (FL) | Lobster: American/Maine (Trap-caught)Lobster: Caribbean Spiny (Bahamas) |
| Mahi Mahi (Imported Longline) |
Mahi Mahi (Troll/Pole from the U.S. Atlantic) | Mahi Mahi (Imported Troll/Poll and U.S.) |
| Marlin: Striped* or Blue* (Imported) |
Swordfish (Harpoon and Handline from U.S., Canada, North Atlantic and East Pacific)* | Marlin: Blue (HI)*Swordfish (CA Drift Gillnet and U.S. Longline)* |
| Monkfish |
Mahi Mahi (Troll/Pole from the U.S. Atlantic)Sablefish/Black Cod/Butterfish (AK, BC) | Mahi Mahi (Imported Troll/Poll and U.S.)Sablefish/Black Cod/Butterfish (CA, OR, WA) |
| Orange Roughy* |
Halibut: Pacific (U.S.)Tilapia (U.S. Farmed) | Flounder, Sole, Sanddab (U.S. Pacific Wild-caught)Summer Flounder (U.S. Atlantic Wild-caught)Turbot, Greenland* |
| Pompano: Florida |
Striped Bass (Farmed or Wild-caught*) | Black Sea Bass |
| Rockfish: Pacific (Trawl) |
Halibut: Pacific (U.S.)Rockfish: Black (Hook-and-Line from CA, OR and WA)Sablefish/Black Cod/Butterfish (AK, BC)
Striped Bass (Farmed or Wild-caught*) |
Flounder, Sole, Sanddab (U.S. Pacific Wild-caught)Rockfish (Pacific, Hook-and-line or Jig)Sablefish/Black Cod/Butterfish (CA, OR, WA) |
| Salmon (Farmed, including Atlantic)* |
Arctic Char (Farmed in Recirculating Systems)Salmon (AK Drift Gillnet, Purse Seine and Troll)Salmon, Freshwater Coho (U.S. Farmed in Tank Systems) | Salmon (Drift Gillnet, Purse Seine and Troll from WA*, OR and CASalmon, Coho (British Columbia, Wild-caught) |
| Sharks and Spiny Dogfish* |
Halibut: Pacific (U.S.)Cobia (U.S. Farmed) | Dogfish, Spiny (BC)*Sturgeon: (U.S. Farmed)Sturgeon: White and Green (OR and WA Wild-caught) |
| Shrimp (Imported Except Canada and Thailand Farmed in Fully Recirculating Systems) |
Shrimp (U.S. Farmed in Fully Recirculating Systems or Inland Ponds)Shrimp: Pink (OR)Spot Prawn (BC) | Shrimp (U.S. and Canadian Wild-caught)Shrimp (U.S. Farmed in Open Systems; Thailand Farmed in Fully Recirculating Systems)Spot Prawn (U.S. Pacific) |
| Snapper: Red or Vermilion (U.S.) |
Tilapia (U.S. Farmed) | Snapper: Gray; Lane*; Mutton*; Yellowtail (U.S. Gulf of Mexico)Tilapia (Farmed in Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Honduras) |
| Swordfish (Imported)* |
Mahi Mahi (Troll/Pole from the U.S. Atlantic)Swordfish (Harpoon or Handline from U.S. and Canada)* | Mahi Mahi (Imported Troll/Poll and U.S.)Swordfish (CA and OR Drift Gillnet and U.S. Longline)* |
| Tilapia (China, Taiwan Farmed) |
Tilapia (U.S. Farmed) | Tilapia (Farmed in Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Honduras) |
| Tilefish (Southeast)* |
Mahi Mahi (Troll/Pole from the U.S. Atlantic)Striped Bass (Farmed or Wild-caught*) | Mahi Mahi (U.S. Longline and Worldwide Troll/Poll Except U.S. Atlantic)Tilefish, Golden (U.S. Mid-Atlantic)* |
| Tuna: Canned (All Except Troll/Poll |
Tuna: “White” Canned Albacore (Troll/Poll from the U.S. and Canadian Pacific)Tuna: “Light” Canned Skipjack (Troll/Poll) | Tuna: “White” Canned Albacore (Troll/Poll Except U.S. and Canadian Pacific) |
| Tuna: Albacore (All Longline Except HI)*Tuna: Bigeye (All Longline Except U.S. Atlantic)*Tuna: Blackfin (All Longline and Purse Seine)*
Tuna: Bluefin (Wild or Ranched)* Tuna: Skipjack (All Imported Longline) Tuna: Tongol (All Gillnet and Purse Seine Except Malaysia) Tuna: Yellowfin (All Purse Seine and All Longline Except U.S. Atlantic Longline)* |
Tuna: Albacore (Troll/Pole from the U.S. and Canadian Pacific)Tuna: Bigeye (Troll/Pole from the U.S. Atlantic)Tuna: Skipjack (Troll/Poll)
Tuna: Yellowfin (Troll/Pole from the U.S. Atlantic) |
Tuna: Albacore (HI Longline)*Tuna, Bigeye (Troll/Pole and U.S. Atlantic Longline)Tuna: Blackfin (Troll/pole)*
Tuna: Skipjack (Longline from the U.S. Atlantic and HI) Tuna: Tongol (Malaysia and Worldwide Troll/Poll) Tuna, Yellowfin (Troll/Poll Except Pacific and U.S. Atlantic) Tuna, Yellowfin (Longline from U.S. Atlantic and HI) |
* Consumption advisory due to mercury or other contaminants. For more information, visit www.edf.org/seafoodhealth
Who’s saying what