by Clayton Coppaway, Jr. Research & Education Officer, MCG

Making healthy choices when it comes to seafood can be a challenging and overwhelming experience.

This is especially true as seafood consumers begin to question the sustainability of the fisheries that support their love of fish. Fortunately in Canada, SeaChoice provides a variety of information on fish species, the fisheries practices used to harvest them and whether they are considered sustainable.

SeaChoice was created to help Canadian businesses and shoppers take an active role in supporting sustainable fisheries.  SeaChoice does this by providing guidance and recommendations on which fish species to avoid and ones that are considered are best choices for consumers in ‘Canada’s Seafood Guide’. This guide can be downloaded directly from SeaChoices website. (www.seachoice.org).

SeaChoice evaluates both wild fisheries and farmed fisheries. Wild fisheries are evaluated based on four factors: 1) the impact the fishery has on the target species population; 2) the impacts the fishery has on non-target species; 3) the effectiveness of fisheries management regimes; and 4) the impacts the fishery has on habitat or the ecosystem. Farmed fisheries such as farmed shellfish and fin fish are further evaluated to make sure the production methods are not harmful to wild fish, they are not damaging to the ecosystem, their food web position, and the effectiveness of management and regulatory regimes.

Netukulimk also reminds us that we have a responsibility to take only what is needed today, leaving some for tomorrow and future generations.

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