Seafood Watch

#WorldFisheriesDay?serves as a reminder that sustainable fishing practices around the world help to protect our ocean and the livelihoods that depend on it. One way to support sustainable fisheries is by using our new sardine, anchovy, and herring guide. These small fish play a crucial role in the ocean's food web as they are a primary food source for many larger fish species. By choosing seafood from environmentally sustainable fisheries, you can make a positive impact toward preserving marine resources for future generations.?Get this easy-to-use guide at https://lnkd.in/gVpKavdb. Here are a few top tips to get you started: ?? Buy?sardines?caught in Japan or Morocco. ?? Buy?anchovies?caught in Chile, Morocco, or Peru. ?? Buy?lake herring?(a.k.a. cisco) caught in Lake Superior. ?? Buy?Pacific herring?caught in Canada. ?? Buy?sardines,?anchovies, and?herring?certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). ?? Avoid?sardines?and?anchovies?caught in France, Portugal, or Spain?unless you confirm they’re from a yellow-rated source (scroll down for more information). ?? Avoid?sardines?and?anchovies?caught in the Mediterranean region.

Our November Super Green species, Arctic char, is the northernmost freshwater fish in the world. With a natural range encompassing the entire Arctic region, this hearty fish thrives in extremely cold waters and has provided an important, nutrient-rich food source in traditional Inuit diets through the centuries. This delicious fish is increasingly valued as a sustainable alternative to salmon in innovative dishes and is the only Super Green species that is both farmed and wild-caught. Arctic char is a nutrient superstar, boasting the following benefits in a 100-gram (about 3.5-ounce) serving. Arctic char: Is a protein cache. With 19 grams of protein per serving, Arctic char helps maintain muscle synthesis and repair. Provides a sunshine vitamin bonus. Arctic char provides a rich source of vitamin D (464 IUs per serving), a common shortfall nutrient in our diet with important roles for bone health and immune function. Achieves super omega-3 status. Arctic char is at the top of the list when it comes to levels of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. At more than 1,000 milligrams per serving, these levels are similar to salmon and trout, making them an important addition to diets for healthy heart and brain function. Learn more about Arctic char and find a new recipe for Sonoran Arctic char fish tacos with chili-lime mayo at https://lnkd.in/g93yZTYC.

Help ensure our seafood ratings are accurate and up to date by reviewing and commenting on newly released draft assessments.?The following assessments are available for public comment through December 2, 2024. Bull and giant kelps (British Columbia, Canada) Caribbean spiny lobster (Mexico) Carp (United States) Freshwater fish (Lake Huron) Reddish and spiny scallops (British Columbia, Canada) Snapper, jobfish, and grouper (Hawaii) Tuna and large pelagics (Eastern Pacific Ocean) We're committed to a transparent and inclusive process, and our assessments go through several internal and external reviews. We encourage you to learn more about our standards and the broader assessment process to provide feedback on draft assessments during the open public comment period. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/g3AJqAHK

On Monday, November 4, we released new and updated recommendations and ratings. Anchoveta caught in Chile and Peru is rated green or yellow. Araucanian herring, Inca scad, and Pacific chub mackerel caught in Chile are rated yellow. Learn more about these and all our ratings at https://lnkd.in/g2vAgYRT.

Farmed striped bass are a cross between naturally occurring striped bass from the Atlantic, sometimes called stripers (Morone saxatilis), and freshwater white bass (Morone chrysops). These sturdy hybrid fish are more tolerant to warm and shallow waterbodies than their parent species, grow quickly, and are disease resistant. These characteristics make them a favorite for aquaculture production. Hybrid striped bass farmed in the U.S. is rated green for environmental sustainability and is a Best Choice. The industry has strong management regulations and compliance. They also use best practices to guide their farming techniques, and farms have robust health and biosecurity protocols. For example, farms procure their stock from certified disease-free sources, use quarantine periods, disinfect hauling trucks, and don’t usually allow equipment to be used on multiple sites. Disease prevalence is low, chemicals are used infrequently, and ponds typically have low rates of water discharge. This limits the chance for pollution, escaped fish, or disease to enter local watersheds. Combined with their strong nutritional profile, U.S. farmed striped bass is a kick(b)ass choice all around. Learn more about our October Super Green species at: https://lnkd.in/gQYV-9Xx.

Take our 20-minute survey to help inform the future of Seafood Watch! We’re recruiting volunteers to take a 20-minute, online survey about your sustainable seafood journey, how you interact with our program tools, and how we can improve your experience. Survey results will only be shared internally with a small group of customer experience researchers and help steer future Seafood Watch projects and updates. Survey participants will be entered to win two free tickets to the Monterey Bay Aquarium or a $50 Amazon gift card, you choice. A winner will be randomly selected after the submission period has ended on Friday, October 25. The winner will be notified via email by Tuesday, October 29. Take the survey at: https://ows.io/qs/xadhn0c3

Introducing October’s Super Green species: U.S. farmed striped bass. Also known as sunshine bass, this green-rated hybrid seafood offers a meaty, rich, and buttery taste along with a nutrient-dense protein package. Striped bass: Is packed with protein — 19 grams per three ounce serving — to help boost muscle strength and recovery. Delivers a significant vitamin B12 boost, providing over 150% of the Daily Value essential for the production of healthy red blood cells. Provides 40 micrograms (72% Daily Value) of selenium, enhancing your immune system and supporting thyroid function. Is rich in heart-healthy omega-3s, including 200 mg of EPA and 600 mg of DHA per serving, which are important for heart and brain health. ?? Learn more about U.S. farmed striped bass and find a new recipe for pan-seared striped bass with Korean yangnyeomjang at https://lnkd.in/gQYV-9Xx.?

In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we’re highlighting the Quinault Indian Nation’s green-rated northern razor clam fishery.? ? After fighting for decades for recognition of their treaty fishing rights, the Quinault Indian Nation — located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington — now exclusively manages the northern razor clam harvest on their reservation and co-manages the harvest with the state within their treaty area. This fishery is rated green for environmental sustainability by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program thanks to a strong management plan rooted in both traditional knowledge and modern science. This highly effective blend of management systems includes regular population assessments and strong policies to prevent overharvest. ? Northern razor clams have always been important to the Quinault. Clams were historically — and still remain — an important food in the community. Today, the razor clam harvest is also an important economic opportunity for the tribe. ? “It's really quite a big part of our life that comes from our tradition and our culture, and it's just something that I thoroughly enjoy,” said Quinault tribal member Jennifer McCrory, who harvests clams both commercially and for home use. Read more about the Quinault’s razor clam harvest, sustainable management practices, and more at:?https://lnkd.in/e3zsk9mv.

Help ensure our seafood ratings are accurate and up to date by reviewing and commenting on newly released draft assessments. The following assessments are available for public comment through November 4, 2024. Farmed shrimp (Indonesia) Farmed striped bass (Mexico) Squid (India, Indonesia, and Thailand) We're committed to a transparent and inclusive process, and our assessments go through several internal and external reviews. We encourage you to learn more about our standards and the broader assessment process to provide feedback on draft assessments during the open public comment period. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/g3AJqAHK

On Monday, October 7, we released new and updated recommendations and ratings. ? Pacific bluefin tuna caught in California with FAD-free purse seines or pole-and-lines or in Mexico with FAD-free purse seines have been upgraded to yellow ratings. Pacific bluefin tuna caught anywhere else in the Pacific Ocean are red-rated. Skipjack and yellowfin tunas caught in California with FAD-free purse seines have been upgraded to green ratings. Skipjack and yellowfin tunas caught with FAD-free purse seines anywhere else in the Pacific Ocean are yellow-rated. ? Lake whitefish, walleye, white bass, white perch, and yellow perch caught in Lake Erie are rated yellow, and rainbow smelt is rated green. Walleye caught in Lake Ontario is rated yellow, and lake whitefish and yellow perch are rated red. Squirefish (a.k.a. tai snapper) caught in New Zealand is rated yellow. Learn more about these and all our ratings at https://lnkd.in/g2vAgYRT.